Feast of St. Joseph, patron of the War College, comemorated

The ceremony was attended by the Defence Minister Ante Kotromanović, Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Drago Lovrić, Military Academy Acting Director and Commander of the War College, Brigadier General Slaven Zdilar, the first commander of the War College, retired Lieutenant General Franjo Feldi, participants of the current and 14 previous generations, and representatives of local authorities.

Defence Minister Kotromanović with a delegation which included Chief of General Staff, General Lovrić and commander of the War College General Zdilar laid a wreath in front of the Jelačić tomb. On this occasion, the Minister noted that the ceremony of the War College and coming to Zaprešić has a long tradition for 14 years and it should continue. He pointed to the importance of the Croatian Military Academy as one of the important segments of the support and development of the Armed Forces as a whole, and the War College, as the highest level of education, where the students acquire knowledge at the strategic level. The War College officers are educated to perform some of the most important duties in the Armed Forces. “Be committed to your work and your duties”, Minister Kotromanovic said. He pointed to the international dimension of education in the War College. In the 14^th generation, 4 students have been from other countries, and Kotromanović expressed confidence that such cooperation would continue in the future as well.

The commander of the War College Slaven Zdilar said that military training was not only about the adoption of technical knowledge and skills, but it also includes the development of military professionalism and military ethics. He noted that Croatia was a country rich in tradition and history, while the army was the place where traditional values ​​have been taken care of and developed.

Mayor of Zaprešić Željko Turk wished students of 14^th generation a warm welcome as well. Thanking for the welcome General Zdilar stressed the importance of the traditional visit of the War College students to Zaprešić, the city friend of the War College and Military Academy. He pointed out the importance of education, preservation of tradition and patriotic spirit.  Tribute to fallen soldiers was paid by laying wreaths at the monument of fallen soldiers in the Homeland war, and in the chapel of St. Joseph a Holly Mass was served by Military Ordinary Juraj Jezerinac.