Škabrnja marks the 23rd anniversary of the tragic massacre
On 18 November Škabrnja marks the anniversary of the tragic massacre of 48 civilians and 15 Croatian defenders by the Serbian paramilitary and the JNA in 1991, which was one of the most horrifying events of the Homeland War.
The visitors and delegations from throughout Croatia, among whom the Envoy of the President of the Republic and the Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, Vice admiral Ante Urlić, the Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament and the Minister of Public Administration, Arsen Bauk; the Inspector General, Lieutenant General Mirko Šundov, and the Navy Commander, Rear admiral Robert Hranj, accompanied by Brigadier General Mladen Fuzul and Brigadier General Boris Šerić on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces, paid the respects to the victims of Škabrnja.
The visitors marched to the Mass Grave Memorial Site, where the Association of Croatian 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 the victims of the Homeland War in the Church of Assumption in Škabrnja, followed by the main commemoration ceremony held in the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square.
The visitors then proceeded to the Memorial Site in the local cemetery (Saint Luke’s cemetery), where the prayer of absolution was recited, followed by wreath laying and candle burning by the delegations at the central cross at the Memorial Site.