President of the Republic Presents Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski to HVO’s 101st Bosanski Brod Brigade
The delegate of the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović, the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković attended in Slavonski Brod today a ceremony marking the 32nd anniversary of the founding of the Croatian Defence Council’s (HVO) 101st Bosanski Brod Brigade.
On the occasion President Milanović bestowed the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski upon the HVO’s 101st Bosanski Brod Brigade for the demonstrated prowess of its members in the Homeland War. Special Adviser Mareković presented the President of the Republic’s decoration to the members of the Brigade at a ceremony held today in Slavonski Brod. On behalf of the Brigade the decoration was accepted by the president of the Association of Volunteers and Veterans of the Croatian Defence Council’s 101st Bosanski Brod Brigade Ivo Đogaš and Association Secretary Luka Garić.
Prior to the ceremony, the delegate of the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed, the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković paid tribute to the fallen Croatian defenders and civilians by laying a wreath and lighting a candle at the Memorial to the Fallen Croatian Defenders in the Municipal cemetery in Slavonski Brod. Besides the Special Adviser to the President in the delegation were retired Major General Ljubo Ćesić and retired General Ivan Kapular.
The unit was founded on 3 March 1992 as the 101st Bosanski Brod Brigade, and in May 1992 renamed the Croatian Defence Council’s 101st Bosanski Brod Brigade. It was founded in the area of Bosanska Posavina and defended Bosanski Brod and its surroundings from attacks by Bosnian Serbs. The HVO’s 101st Bosanski Brod Brigade fought on one of the worst battlefields in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is reflected by the number of killed and wounded defenders. Out of 4,955 members of the Brigade, 436 were killed, and more than 1,400 wounded.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas