President Milanović Bestows Decorations upon Vukovar Defenders beneath Vukovar Water Tower
On the occasion of the Day of the City of Vukovar, the President of the Republic and Commander in Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces Zoran Milanović bestowed decorations upon the defenders of Vukovar at a ceremony held in the amphitheatre of the Vukovar water tower.
“This is the least I can do as president of Croatia, a modern Croatian Republic, our state, the one you have fought for, it is a small symbolic gesture. I hope it is not too late”, President Milanović stated at an awards ceremony for Vukovar defenders.
“I have been president for two years, and what I succeed in doing in five years – I will do, I cannot move mountains, but I can do small things. This is something small, but a great thing for great people. I often say that Croatia was defended by a small number of good people, and that in every war a small number of people tip the balance. In fact, in most human endeavours the deciding factor, the victory and the difference are a small number of good people. In our war that number was so small that today it is hard to believe that it was possible at all”, President Milanović said, thanking the defenders for defending Croatia.
“You are receiving these decorations as Croatian defenders, at that time you were still defenders, because Croatia had not been recognized. Had it not been for you, Croatia would not even have been recognized”, the President of the Republic said in concluding his address.
The President of the Republic made the decisions on bestowing these decorations to the defenders of Vukovar on the occasion of the observance of the 30th anniversary of the 204th Croatian Army Brigade and the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Vukovar, and the presentation took place at a ceremony marking the Day of the City of Vukovar.
The Order of Duke Domagoj with Ribbon was posthumously awarded to Velimir Đerek for bravery and heroism displayed in the Homeland War.
The following defenders of Vukovar were awarded the Order of Nikola Šubić Zrinski for a deed of valour in the Homeland War: Robert Alvir (missing in action), Ivica Arbanas, Ivica Banožić, Stanislav Bartolović (posthumously), Siniša Cvijan, Dražen Đurović, Anto Gašić (posthumously), Petar Gojun, Marin Ivanković, Stjepan Katić (posthumously), Darko Mihaljević and Zoran Milas.
For outstanding successful command of units of the Croatian Armed Forces and for extraordinary military services in their organization and development, the Order of Ban Jelačić was bestowed upon Ivan Anđelić, Marko Filković, Zoran Gruber (posthumously), Zlatko Horvat (posthumously), Željko Jukić, Antun Jurić, Petar Kačić (posthumously), Stjepan Kulić, Marinko Leko, Siniša Mataija (posthumously), Juraj Njavro (posthumously), Vlado Ošust, Drago Skoko, Josip Tomašić (posthumously) and Adorjan Toth (posthumously.
As an honourable sign of the eternal memory of those who laid down their lives for the Croatian state in war, the Order of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan with Gilded Interlace was posthumously bestowed upon Krešimir Arnold.
The Order of the Croatian Cross was bestowed upon Antun Dugan who was seriously wounded in the Homeland War. Zvonimir Petrić and Tomislav Josić were awarded the Order of the Croatian Trefoil for extraordinary services to the Republic of Croatia in a state of war.
After the awards ceremony for the defenders of Vukovar, President Milanović toured the Vukovar water tower in the company of the director of the Vukovar water tower Mirela Janković and the Mayor of Vukovar Ivan Penava.
Alongside President Milanović at the awards ceremony was the Special Adviser to the President for Homeland War Marijan Mareković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Tomislav Bušljeta