President Milanović Decorates Voluntary Blood Donors: Thanks to You, Croatia is Among the Noblest Societies
“This is a special occasion every year, and I cannot express the depth of gratitude and respect I feel for you,” the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović said today to voluntary blood donors at a decoration ceremony where he presented the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska in recognition of the noble and humanitarian act of donating blood more than 100 times for men and 75 times for women in 2024.
“We are among the countries and societies where the culture and practice of blood donation are highly developed. Indeed, we are already among the best and noblest, thanks to people like you,” President Milanović said. “There is a saying that Croats are quick to use – ‘You’re so good, I’d give you my blood’ – that ought to be protected, because, in fact, no one but you has the right to say it. It has become a common metaphor, yet you are the only ones who actually do it,” the President added.
“What makes you special as a group is that you have all met a particular criterion – donating blood 100 or 75 times – yet each of you has a unique story, and each of you is driven by your own deeply human motives,” President Milanović concluded.
The Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska was presented by the President of the Republic on Monday to 85 voluntary blood donors, including 11 women and 74 men: Bartolić Zdravko, Brcko Željka, Brčina Antun, Brulić Samir, Buljan Luka, Bunčić Toma, Cestar Milivoj, Cipriš Ivan, Crnković Dražen, Cuvaj Tomislav, Čiček Vlado, Čunčić Stjepan, Djarmati Slavko, Đurin Marica, Filipić Željko, Gajski Nenad, Galović Mladen, Golubar Josip, Gradečak Boris, Haramina Željko, Hašpl Jirka, Horak Vitomir, Horvatinović Mladen, Ilić Miroslav, Ivanković Zdravko, Janeš Silvana, Jurekić Savka, Klasan Vlado, Knežević Dragutin, Kocijan Zdravko, Kohajda Tomislav, Kokić Josip, Korman Damir, Kos Vladimir, Kosalec Miroslav, Kosalec Zvonko, Kožić Alen, Kukec Tomislav, Kulež Zlatko, Kušen Anton, Lesić Miljenko, Losso Siniša, Magdić Božica, Malkoč Ivan, Medved Dalibor, Mihalić Alen, Mihić Miroslav, Milde Alen, Milek Mladen, Milovec Slobodan, Mlakar Hrvoje, Mučnjak Vesnica, Mutak Mladen, Novak Vladimir, Novak Zlatko, Obad Igor, Pajnić Zdravko, Paunović Zdenko, Petak Stjepan, Pintač Zdravka, Polak Damir, Poljak Stjepan, Poznić Ivan, Puzić Bojan, Radošević Darko, Rebić Željko, Ružić Dubravko, Stojko Stanislav, Stojko Vera, Šeničnjak Zoran, Šimek Stanko, Šimunović Zdravko, Štefanec Mladen, Štefanec Sanela, Štulac Vladimir, Švegović Mario, Težak Marija, Tičak Tihomir, Uroić Stjepan, Varjačić Mladen, Varžić Ivica, Visinski Stjepan, Vuksanić Tomislav, Vulić Robert, and Zimet Adam.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, voluntary blood donor Sanela Štefanec said: “We come from different parts of Croatia, are of different ages and have different life stories, but we are united by one simple yet profound desire – the desire to help others. We are proud that the Republic of Croatia has a sufficient supply of safe blood and blood products to meet the needs of its healthcare system. This is proof that our country still possesses a great treasure: people who are selflessly willing to help others.”
On behalf of the 130 Croatian Red Cross branches, their volunteers and staff, and the voluntary blood donors in attendance, Croatian Red Cross President Željko Grubišić thanked President Milanović for hosting the reception and presenting the decorations. He emphasized that, in times when nothing seems certain, one thing remains constant: the work of the Croatian Red Cross and its commitment to helping those in need. “At the forefront of those who help others are our blood donors, who are our heroes. They deserve the highest recognition, and your decision to confer these prestigious state decorations upon them is an expression of that recognition. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” said the President of the Croatian Red Cross.
In addition to the President of the Croatian Red Cross, the decoration ceremony was attended by Croatian Red Cross Executive President Robert Markt, Head of the Health Services Department Suzana Borko, Director of the Croatian Institute for Transfusion Medicine Irena Jukić, M. D., Ph. D., and Head of the Blood Collection Department Patricija Topić Šestan, M. D.
President Milanović was accompanied by Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić, 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, Commissioner of the President of the Republic for Sports Tomislav Paškvalin, and President of the State Commission for Decorations and Awards, Academician Velimir Neidhardt.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek, Tomislav Bušljeta