Marking 27th anniversary of tragic events in Škabrnja
The 27th anniversary of the occupation and massacre in Škabrnja in the Homeland War was marked with a traditional remembrance march and commemorative ceremony on 18 November 2018.
Among the many visitors coming from all over Croatia to pay respects to the victims of Škabrnja weere the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces General Mirko Šundov as Envoy of the President of the Republic as Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, the Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Milijan Brkić, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Marija Pejčinović Burić, the State Secretary for the Homeland War Veterans Ivan Vukić, the State Secretary of the Interior Žarko Katić, the representatives of Zadar County, senior civilian and military officials, Croatian defenders, representatives of the associations from the Homeland war and others.
The participants walked the memorial march along the 18 November ’91 Street to the Memorial Monument and the mass grave, where the Union of Associations of Civilian Victims of the Homeland War laid the wreath, and subsequently to the Memorial Monument to the Fallen in the Homeland War.
The mass service for all victims of the Homeland War was recited in the church of the “Assumption of Our Lady” by the Military Bishop (Ret.) Mons. Juraj Jezerinac, who reminded that in the early 1990ies nobody had imagined the horrific crime committed in Škabrnji, by individuals holding no regard for the humans, for culture and the nature. Immediately upon seizing Škabrnja the aggressors killed 43 civilians and committed atrocities unimaginable for humans. On the other part of Croatia Vukovar was undergoing its calvary too; these events must never fall into oblivion, because it would imply forgetting the past, and it could be a root of new conflicts.
The Croatian people had not wanted the war and took everything in its power to prevent it, but was forced to defend it elf. Today we are remembering Croatian defenders and their sacrifice for our future with deep respect. The faith kept us through the Homeland War; we are today gathered in faith and confidence, which will guard Croatia and its people”, said Mons. Jezerinac.
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