Commemoration and funeral of GA Petar Stipetić
The Ministry of Defence and the Croatian Armed Forces held a commemoration for the deceased General of the Army and former Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Petar Stipetić in Zagreb on 20 March 2018.
The ceremony was opened with a recount of the responsible duties performed by General Stipetić and continued with a film on his career during and after the Homeland War, featuring the memorable moment of the surrender of the Corps of the Army of the Republic of Serbian Krajina ending the Operation “Storm“ (on 8 August 1995).
The Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević said in his address: “General Stipetić had a real soldier and commander authority, also for his human and moral virtues, and was a role model for all officers. His virtues are the virtues we wish to guard and pass on to the future generations of Croatian soldiers“.
“General Stipetić gave an invaluable contribution in the Operation “Storm“ and in definite liberation of Croatia. The Operation “Storm“ stands for the Croatian military success and herioism, and crowned all victories in the Homeland War“, said Minister Krstičević.
The Minister announced thst the Barracks housing the Croatian Army in Karlovac would be named after the late General in his honour.
The Director of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Rear admiral Robert Hranj delivered an address on behalf of the Croatian Armed Forces, stating that General Stipetić was both an excellent stategist and operational officer and a military leader “From the very beginning of the struggle for modern Croatia and the hardest days of the Homeland War General Stipetić left a lasting mark on the development of the Croatian military, first into a victorious Army that later evolved into a modern military organisation, and a NATO and the EU member, capable of conducting all tasks and missions, ranging from the defence of the country to the assistance to civilian institutions“, stated RAdm Hranj.
The funeral of General Stipetić was held in the Mirogoj Cemetery in Zagreb with military funeral honours, with over a hundred officials standing the funeral guard.
The funeral was served by Bishop Juraj Jezerinac, and attended by the top-level civilian and military officials, including the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia Andrej Plenković.
General of the Army Anton Tus (Ret.), the first war-time Chief of the General Staff in his address said “My memories in this moment, as we are bidding goodbye to you, go to the time we spent togetter building the Croatian Army and the Croatian independence . You put ypur skills, expertise and energy at the service of your homeland; We remember vividly your image and voice, and your calmness and self-assurance that encouraged us to combat a stronger enemy, and thus to realise a centuries-long dream of the Croatian people“.
“It is a huge loss and grief for us, but I hope our pride to have shared our lives with a modest, sensible and good man and a remarkable general will overcome. We will guard a lasting memory of General Stipetić as one of the founders of the modern history and independent Republic of Croatia
The Republic of Croatia and its Armed Forces bid a symbolic farewell with a honorary flypast by a MiG 21 and gun salute by the Honorary Unit of the Battalion “Gromovi“ as RAdm l Robert Hranj handed the state flag to the late General’s family.
The commemoration ceremony and the funeral featured the performance of the Croatian Navy’s Vocal Ensemble “Sveti Juraj”.
General of the Army Petar Stiipetić was born in Ogulin, Croatia on 24 October 1937M; After completing the primary and secondary schools in his hometown, he graduated from the JNA Army Academy.
Upon the outbreak of war in 1991 General Stipetić joined the Croatian Army, where he exercised top-level duties (deputy Head of the Croatian National Guard, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, Head of the Slavonian Battlefield Sector (Đakovo) Command, the Commander of the Zagreb Military District and Assistant Chief of the General Staf of the Croatian Army for Combat Arms.
General Stipetić performed the duty of the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces in the period 2000 – 2002. From February 2003 until the retirement in March 2005 Gen. Stipetić was Defence and Military Advisor to the President of the Republic as the Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces.
His contribution and valour demonstrated during the Homeland War earned him the Grand Order of Petar Krešimir IV with Sash and Neck Badge, the Order of Duke Domagoj with Neck Badge, the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski, the Order of Vice-roy Jelačić, the Order of the Croatian Trefoil, the Order of the Croatian Three-strand Pattern, the Memorial Medal of the Homeland War and of the Homeland’s Gratitude (5 and 10 years of service) and the medals of the Operation “Lightnint“ and “Storm“.
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