President Milanović Decorates Croatian Firefighters and Tells Them: It would be good if everything in Croatia functioned like the fire service
On the occasion of International Firefighters’ Day, which is observed on St. Florian’s Day, their patron saint, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović hosted a formal reception for members of the Croatian Firefighting Association, at which he presented decorations to meritorious firefighters.
In his address at the formal reception, President Milanović said that awarding the firefighters is important to him because it goes hand in hand with the development of the fire service and the challenges faced by its members, including life-threatening events and dangers to which firefighters are exposed as they protect property and Croatia on the whole. The President recalled a major tragedy, which took place in the Kornati archipelago in 2007. “The drama of the local community, the drama of young people, the encounter with horror and fear, dangers these people face every day – before that, I knew what firefighters are. I thought I knew, but in fact I did not feel. When I felt the power of that service and its connection with the community on that small Croatian island, things were different for me,” said President Milanović.
In his comments about firefighting in Croatia, the President referred to it as a service, an occupation, a profession that has been developing in Croatia’s history in various ways. “It started in the north and today we have one network of firefighting professionals and volunteers, which is present in all of Croatia and is of the same quality everywhere,” he said.
In his opinion, Croatia will become a completely well-organized country the moment all services in the country start functioning as well as the fire service functions today. “If everything in Croatia functioned the way the fire service functions – and some other services and professions – the moment when Croatia becomes the strong, well-organized state we want would be closer to us. For now, that is not the case and there is still work to be done. But, when it happens, great merit will be next to your name, your services and next to the names of those who were decorated today,” President Milanović emphasized.
Concluding his address, the President wished the firefighters a safe year. “I hope that you will not lose any of your members, that all those who leave for duty – and there will certainly be many such departures – will return home to their families and continue to build Croatia, enriched by yet another experience, another season,” concluded President Milanović, who presented the awards to the firefighters, congratulating the decorated members and their families.
For extraordinarily successful command of fire units of the Republic of Croatia and for extraordinary services in their organization, the President of the Republic bestowed the Order of Ban Jelačić upon Slavko Tucaković.
The Order of the Croatian Trefoil, for extraordinary services to the Republic of Croatia under special circumstances in peace, was conferred upon Boris Banjan, Zdenko Brandejs, Ivica Labaš, Dino Kozlevac, Zlatko Križanić, Hrvoje Ostović and Stjepan Simović.
For extraordinary contributions to the development and standing of the Republic of Croatia, as well as to the welfare of its citizens, the Order of the Croatian Interlace was presented to Valter Drandić, Ivica Čelan, Ivan Golubić, Antun Jelić, Zvonimir Ljubičić, Marijan Kicivoj, Zoran Smolić, Milan Šulter and Stjepan Venus (posthumously). For honorable and exemplary service, Slavko Gauš, Davor Kovačić (posthumously), Stjepan Kušan, Zlatko Marciuš, Ilija Turković and Rudolf Zajec were awarded the Homeland Gratitude Memorial Medal.
Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucaković gave an address in which he thanked the President of the Republic on behalf of the awarded firefighters, calling this a historic day for the firefighting profession in Croatia. “This is the first time that the presentation of these awards is being organized in the Office of the President. Thank you for that, because you recognized that the Croatian fire service is also one of the pillars of homeland security. Along with the Croatian Army, the Croatian Police, the Croatian fire service will always be ready to react to everything whenever necessary,” the Chief Fire Commander said at the reception.
“Thank you on behalf of these people here, because the fire service in Croatia is a big, magnificent family and brand in the heart of Europe – 160 years have passed since the establishment of the first fire unit, years passed and everything passed, but the firefighters remained,” Chief Fire Commander Tucaković said, telling those present that Croatian firefighters will continue to honorably serve the citizens on all levels.
Apart from the decorated firefighters, their family members and friends, and Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucaković, also attending the ceremony in the Office of the President were the Honorary President of the Croatian Firefighting Association Franjo Gregurić, commanders and presidents of county firefighting associations, members of the Honorary Unit of the Fire Brigade of the City of Zagreb, members of the Office of the Croatian Firefighting Association and State Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Tugomir Majdak.
President Milanović was accompanied by the Head of the Office of the President Orsat Miljenić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Defense Ivica Olujić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for National Security Dragan Lozančić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy Neven Pelicarić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka Žarković, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for the Economy Velibor Mačkić, Assistant Adviser to the President of the Republic for the Economy Martina Ciglević and Head of the Military Office in the Cabinet for Defense and National Security of the Office of the President Rear Admiral Predrag Stipanović.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta, Dario Andrišek