President Milanović in Škabrnja Attends Observance of the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Homeland War and the Victims of Vukovar and Škabrnja

On the occasion of the observance of the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Homeland War and the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Vukovar and Škabrnja, the President of the Republic and Commander in chief of the Croatian Armed Forces attended today the “Korak po korak“ procession (Step by step) in Škabrnja. He then laid a wreath and lit a candle at the central cross near the memorial in St. Luke’s cemetery in Škabrnja.

Škabrnja, along with Vukovar, is a symbol of Croatia’s suffering in the Homeland War. On November 18, 1991, 43 civilians and 15 Croatian defenders were killed and massacred in Škabrnja. Until the liberation of the community in Oluja in 1995, 86 people were killed in Škabrnja.

Participating in the “Step by Step” procession, which started at Dr. Franje Tuđman Square, were flagbearers, members of the Croatian Army with the flags of all military units, cadets of the Police Academy, members of historical units, families of fallen and missing Croatian defenders and civilians, Croatian defenders, government officials and numerous Croatian citizens. Arriving at the central cross near the Memorial for those killed in the Homeland War, the names of the victims were read and wreaths were laid in St. Luke’s cemetery.

Alongside President Milanović, in the procession and the wreath-laying ceremony were the Chief of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, the Director of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces Major General Krešo Tuškan, the Commander of the Croatian Navy commodore Damir Dojkić, the Commander of the Croatian Army Major General Blaž Beretin, the Commander of the “Dr. Franjo Tuđman“ Croatian Defence Academy Major General Slaven Zdilar, the assistant to the Head of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces for Medical Services Major General Boris Zdilar, the Deputy Commander of the Support Command Brigadier General Ivan Raos, the Head of the J2 Intelligence Directorate Brigadier General Mijo Validžić, the Head of the J4 Logistics Directorate Brigadier General Jozo Matković, the Commander of the Coast Guard Commodore Milan Blažević and the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek