Special Forces Command marks St. Martin of Tours in memory of its fallen members
The President of the Republic as the Supreme Commander of the Croatian Armed Forces, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and the Deputy Prime Minister, the Defence Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Damir Krstičević and the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Mirko Šundov, on 11 November 2016 visited the Special Forces Command of the Croatian Armed Forces in Delnice,to observe the Memorial Day for the fallen members of the special units of the Ministry of Defence and of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces.
The commemoration ceremony, with the prayer for the fallen at the memorial cross in the “Drgomalj“ Barracks in Delnice and the holy mass served by the Military Ordinary. Mons. Jure Bogdan in the Sveti Ivan Krstitelj Church, were attended by the parents and family members of the fallen defenders, the members of the associations from the Homeland War, the former members and the representatives of the local govenment, civilian and military officials.
President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović expressed the pride and humility before the sacrifice of the fallen defenders that were commemorated on 11 November. “I am attending this ceremony with a great pride and joy, as the sacrifice of the fallen members of the special units is built into our lives, giving us the opportunity to live in a free, sovereign and proud Republic of Croatia. We are indebted to them for the future of our youth“.
“Today, marking Saint Martin of Tours, the patron saint of the Special Forces Command’s Military Chaplaincy, remember sadly and proudly our 76 fellow combatants, special forces units members who have built their lives into the realisation of the long dream of a sovereign Republic of Croatia. I am proud of having combated side by side with you, building and liberating inch by inch of the territory of our beloved homeland. The grief over the loss of your closest persons never ends, but keep your pride as we do, the pride for combating side by side with the Croatian youth“, said Minister Krstičević .
“Respecting and commemorating the Saint Martin of Tours’ Day we also respect and cherish the heroic acts our fallen fellow combatants and also respect the sacrifice of their families. We, the members of the Special Forces Command, will not cease to guard the memory of our colleagues, fellow combatants and friends“, said Colonel Turalija, the Commander of the Special Forces Command during the ceremony in the Sv. Ivan Krstitelj Church in Delnice.
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