16th Anniversary of Flash Operation
By reveilles performed by the CAF Orchestra in Okucani through the streets, by laying wreaths at the Central Cross in the Memorial Park, and by service served for all deceased Croatian soldiers and civilian victims of the Homeland war at St. Vid in Okucani, the 16th anniversary of the military operation “Flash”, which in only about thirty hours liberated occupied territory of Western Slavonia was marked today, 1 May 2011.
With echelon of wartime flags, the wreaths for deceased members of the Croatian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the Central Cross were laid by the envoy of the President and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovric with delegation, by Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Luka Bebic with delegation, and on behalf of the Prime Minister, by Minister of Family, Veterans and Intergenerational Solidarity Tomislav Ivic with delegation, in which had been Defence Minister Davor Bozinovic, and Interior Minister Tomislav Karamarko, by the veterans’ association, by the delegation from the Croatian Armed Forces, led by Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Slavko Baric, by delegation of the Police Directorate, led by Police Director Oliver Grbic, by delegation of Brodsko-Posavska County and by Okucani municipality, led by Brodsko-Posavska County Governor Daniel Marusic.
The Holy Mass for all killed Croatian soldiers was held in the church of St.Vid led by military bishop, Msgr. Juraj Jezerinac. Vicar General Jakov Mamic expressed special gratitude to the selfless contribution to the military-police operation “Flash” to 42 deceased soldiers and 162 wounded veterans. In his homily, he stressed that we need to maintain the dignity and pride with which were being run members of the “Flash” operation. He also said that the truth, love and courage were the basic guiding thoughts of the fallen and wounded soldiers, and that the fidelity and immense power of veterans were the basic messages that should be used by everyone.
At the end of marking the 16th anniversary of “Flash” operation, senior military and civilian dignitaries visited the exhibition of armaments and military equipment Okucani. The citizens could see the new armoured vehicle PATRIA, M84 tank, the new Croatian VHS assault rifle and weapons, equipment and resources that CAF use in international peacekeeping missions. The interested could also get familiar with employment opportunities in the CAF and program of voluntary military service.