Monument to Defenders Unveiled in Mitnica on the Day of Vukovar Defenders

Organized by the Coordination of Associations Stemming from the Homeland War Vukovar and the Croatian Association of Prisoners of Serbian Concentration Camps (HDLSKL), the Day of Vukovar Defenders was marked on Monday, and a monument to the fallen, killed, and missing defenders of Mitnica was unveiled.

On that day in 1991, the first all-out attack by the JNA (Yugoslav People's Army) on Vukovar was recorded, involving infantry, the air force, and the river navy. This day is also considered the unofficial beginning of the defense of Vukovar.

On the Day of Vukovar Defenders, a monument to the fallen, killed, and missing Vukovar defenders of that neighborhood was unveiled in Mitnica, Vukovar. The monument was unveiled by the surviving defenders of Mitnica.

The president of HDLSKL, Zdravko Komšić, stated that they want to permanently commemorate their sacrifice.

"From now on, the survivors will have a place where we can remember them and their sacrifice, and so that we, their comrades-in-arms, and family members have a place to come and light candles for them," Komšić said.

"It has been a long-standing wish of mine to permanently mark the memory of our fallen, killed, and missing defenders with a monument—of those who were not lucky enough to survive and see freedom, but instead wove their lives into the altar of the homeland. Mitnica was defended by 495 Croatian defenders, including police officers, and 95 of them were killed, murdered, or are listed as missing," Komšić said.

Medved: Freedom Was Paid for with the Blood of Croatian Defenders

The monument features the figure of a Vukovar defender in jeans and boots, and verses by Ante Nadomir Tadić Šutra, a poet from Knin, are carved into it. It is built from Dalmatian dolit stone.

The unveiling of the monument in the Mitnica neighborhood was also attended by the Minister of Croatian Veterans, Tomo Medved, who said that it is extremely important to rescue from oblivion and permanently mark the time when Croatian defenders defended their Vukovar.

"They left us lessons in patriotism, courage, bravery, and unity. I express my gratitude to all defenders of Vukovar on the day the all-out attack on Vukovar began. The freedom that Croatia and Vukovar have was not gifted; it was paid for with the blood of many brave Croatian defenders and civil victims, so I want this monument to bear witness to that for future generations, as well as for those who do not know what happened," said Minister of Veterans Tomo Medved.

The Mayor of Vukovar, Marijan Pavliček, said that he likes that the monument is dedicated to all fallen and missing defenders, making no distinction between them and showing the unity that existed during the war.

"I also want to thank the defense commanders of Mitnica who, through wise moves, saved the civilian population from the massacre that was happening in other parts of Vukovar. It is easy to talk about it now, but back then, it took courage to make such moves. The defenders ended up in concentration camps, but the civilians were saved. The monument does not single anyone out; instead, it gives significance to every defender of Mitnica," Pavliček said.

Source: HRT