25th Anniversary of the Škabrnja massacre

People from throughout Croatia joined the local residents in paying the tribute; among them were the Envoy and Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Milijan Brkić, the Envoy of the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior Vlaho Orepić, the Envoy of the President of the Republic and Deputy Minister of the Veterans of the Homeland War, Ivan Vukić, the delegations of the Ministry of Defence, of the Croatian Armed Forces, of the Ministry of the Interior, of the Ministry of the Veterans of the Homeland War, civilian and military officials, the Croatian defenders, and the representatives of the associations from the Homeland War.

The column marched in deep respect from the street named after the tragic date to the memorial monument of the mass grave, where the Union of association of civilian victims of the Homeland War laid the wreath on behalf of all delegations.

The Archbishop of Zadar, Mons. Želimir Puljić served the mass for all the fallen and deceased in the Homeland War in the Church Uznesenja bl. Djevice Marije at Škabrnja. “18 November reminds of the tragic destiny of both Vukovar and Škabrnja, and on this day the two places are strongly connected in spirit and in prayer. Vukovar and Škabrnja stand for all the places in Croatia that suffered for years during the war and have become symbols and painful reminder of the victims fallen for freedom of Croatia“.
The mass was followed by the central commemoration featuring the recollections from Škabrnja 25 years ago and the massacre of 43 civilians in a day and 88 victiims of the Homeland War from Škabrnja.
Having expressed appreciation to all those who came to Škabrnja to pay respects, the Municipality Head Nediljko Bubnjar said that 18 November brought back strong emotions in all patriotic citizens. “The sacrifice of the Croatian defenders and of the civilian victims from Vukovar and Škabrnja lighted the flame of freedom and of the future victory in the hearts of the Croatian people“.
The commemoration was concluded with the wreath-laying at the Central cross at the local cemetery (Sv. Luka) in tribute to the fallen in the Homeland War.
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