President Milanović Decorates Voluntary Blood Donors: Their motive for donating blood is to help someone they do not know; that is why donors deserve special recognition
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović today presented the Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska to the second group of voluntary blood donors honoured for 2024 at a reception held at the Office of the President of the Republic. This high distinction is awarded in recognition of the noble and humanitarian act of donating blood more than 100 times by men and more than 75 times by women.
President Milanović highlighted the special significance of these decorations compared to all other state decorations awarded by the head of state, stressing that they are part of a tradition that transcends the terms of individual presidents. “The motives for donating blood are first and foremost humanitarian – to help someone you do not know,” President Milanović said, adding that the burden of this humanitarian responsibility should not always fall on the same shoulders, but that as many citizens as possible should take part in voluntary blood donation drives.
Although the criteria for receiving the decoration are clear and straightforward – 100 blood donations for men and 75 for women – the President pointed out that behind these figures lies an enormous and exceptional personal commitment that can in no way be regarded as routine or commonplace. “There is nothing routine about your lives, what you do or what you make sacrifices for. Very few people in Croatia donate blood this many times. You are exceptional individuals who deserve special recognition, and we will continue to honour you,” the President said.
The Order of the Croatian Star with the Effigy of Katarina Zrinska was received by the following 79 voluntary blood donors, out of the 214 recipients of the decoration in 2024: Antić Dean, Antolović Mladen, Antunović Tonći, Banjan Liljana, Bartol Denis, Boljevčan Damir, Božičković Edi, Brajdić Neven, Brajković Božidar, Bulić Berislav, Cuculić Neven, Čop Srećko, Čulić Šimo, Ćurković Branimir, Dagostin Marija, Despot Zrinko, Diminić Paolo, Donadić Boris, Drkulec Darko, Dvorabić Hrvoje, Đud Igor, Fileš Anđelko, Friš Tihomir, Fumić Svjetlana, Gašpar Darko, Glibota Đino, Gojak Nikša, Golja Barbara, Gomerčić Mirjana, Grgurević Marijan, Guidi Marino, Hartl Darko, Hegeduš Marijo, Iskra Berislav, Jakus Tonći, Jurčević Milan, Jurić Miroslav, Kelihar Ivica, Kovačević Borislav, Kralj Vilim, Kršnjavi Mladen, Kuharić Damir, Kurtović Mario, Leljak Robert, Lipnik Anton, Ljubej Davor, Madžarević Saša, Mandarić Ante, Matanović Goran, Matezović Ivica, Medić Damir, Mijatov Vladimir, Milnović Zlatko, Milunić Tomislav, Minčić Slavko, Muža Viktor, Nekić Milan, Ožegović Tomislav, Papa Mladen, Pašara Robert, Pernić Mauro, Pešćica Slavko, Pletikosa Dražen, Posavec Željko, Puntarić Dinko, Radalj Katarina, Slavina Marjan, Smoljo Ante, Šenjug Marko, Šiljković Marijan, Šlibar Dražen, Tanodi Ružica, Tumpak Siniša, Valković Leon, Vojković Jure, Vukelić Darko, Zjačić Tomislav, Zlatar Tomislav, and Žiković Milenko.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Mr. Dražen Pletikosa said that the decorated voluntary blood donors were proud that the Republic of Croatia had 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 willing to selflessly help others when they need it most. We regard the decoration you have presented to us today as a great honour, both for us personally and for the blood donor community in Croatia, whose members have been quietly and selflessly helping others for many years,” Mr. Pletikosa said.
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 noted that throughout its 148 years of work in Croatia, the Croatian Red Cross had faced numerous challenges. “From natural disasters and floods to epidemics and wars, the Croatian Red Cross has faced many challenges, but our volunteers are our strength. They are the strength of our organisation, and at the top of that pyramid are voluntary blood donors,” the Croatian Red Cross President said.
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 Defence Ivica Olujić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Education Jadranka Žarković, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Local and Regional Self-Government Relations Nikša Peronja, Deputy Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic Ivana Pušonjić, Assistant Adviser to the President of the Republic for Foreign and European Policy Ivan Mutavdžić, 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