25th Anniversary of the occupation of Vukovar
The 25th anniversary of the occupation of the heroic town of Vukovar was observed on 18 November 2016, by some 100,000 visitors coming from throughout Croatia and from abroad.
The defenders of Vukovar gathered in the morning hours along with the families of the killed, missing and captured and deported defenders, under the motto “The heroes of the Battle for Vukovar and for Croatia“, marched towards the courtyard of the County Hospital to attend the ceremonial programme, which was attended by the President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Božo Petrov and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković.
The delegation of the Ministry of Defence was headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, and the General Staff delegation was headed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov.
The traditional ceremonial programme commenced at 10 a.m, with the performance of the Croatian Navy’s Vocal Ensemble “Sveti Juraj” , and a recital by the actor Darko Milas and the defender of Vukovar Branko Čulić-Vukovarac.
The Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Božo Petrov said: “We must not and will never forget 18 November; we also must provide non-conditional assistance and support to the people and the town who went through the siege by the aggressor to help them heal the wounds“.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković stated that the 25th anniversary of the occupation of Vukovar and the Vukovar Memorial Day were an occasion to extend deepest respect and gratitude to the Croatian defenders and all those sacrifying their live for Croatia and to keep the memory of them. “The unity seen in Vukovar today should be a future motive for us“.
Having observed the minute of silence for all fallen and missing persons from the Homeland War the traditional memorial column marched from the hospital of Vukovar to the Memorial Cemetery of the Victims of the Homeland War, led by the defenders of Vukovar and family members of the victimes. The delegations laid wreaths and lighted candles on the graves of the defenders and at the Central cross.
At the Memorial cemetery Cardinal Josip Bozanić served the mass for the fallen and missing residents of Vukovarand for the participants of the Homeland War. “A great number of people from all over Croatia have gathered in Vukovar today; overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions, as each of us feels pain and pride“, said Cardinal Bozanić in his homily.
In the afternoon lamps were laid onto the Danube river, symbollising the “memorial river of lights“, in tribute to the killed and missing defenders.
The Battle for Vukovar commenced on 25 August 1991, and ended on 18 November 1991, with the collapse of the defence of the town, consisting of some 1800 members of the Croatian National Guard, the police and the volunteers of the Croatian Defence Forces organised in the legendary 204th Vukovar Brigade. Pursuant to the Decision of the Croatian Parliament of 1999 the day has been commemorated as the Vukovar Memorial Day.