President awards medals to 13 members of 204th Vukovar brigade

President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović presented medals to 13 members of the Croatian Army’s 204th Vukovar brigade and while doing so said that the names of all Vukovar defenders will be permanently written into Croatian history.

The president awarded the Order of Ban Jelačić to Josip Horvat for the exceptional leadership of armed forces units and for special military contribution in their organization and development. Dubravko Pranjić was posthumously awarded the Order of Petar Zrinski and Fran Krsto Frankopan with Gold Weave, as a symbol of permanent remembrance for all those that gave their lives for Croatia during the Homeland War, while Antun Petrić was awarded the Order of the Croatian Cross for being wounded while serving during the Homeland War.

Ten members of the 204th Vukovar brigade were awarded the Order of the Croatian Trefoil for exceptional contribution during the Homeland War: Eduard Đumić posthumously, Zorica Barbarić, Zdenko Hodnik, Sandra Horvat, Zlatko Kovač, Ilija Mihaljčuk, Nenad Mirković, Saša Poje, Srećko Ravlija and Hrvoje Tilić. "Last week we celebrated with pride the return of the Croatian military into Vukovar and that is why I am especially happy today to once again honor the valor of you members of the 204th brigade by awarding you with medals that are more than well deserved. These days, more than usual, we remember the pictures that were permanently cut into our memories in the fall of 1991, of constant and ferocious attacks against Vukovar, its determined and heroic defence and firstly the feeling of unity with Vukovar and its fate as well as hope for final victory that Vukovar gave us," said the president. She added that the battle for Vukovar itself, despite the temporary occupation of the city after three months of courageous

"Last week we celebrated with pride the return of the Croatian military into Vukovar and that is why I am especially happy today to once again honor the valor of you members of the 204th brigade by awarding you with medals that are more than well deserved. These days, more than usual, we remember the pictures that were permanently cut into our memories in the fall of 1991, of constant and ferocious attacks against Vukovar, its determined and heroic defence and firstly the feeling of unity with Vukovar and its fate as well as hope for final victory that Vukovar gave us," said the president. She added that the battle for Vukovar itself, despite the temporary occupation of the city after three months of courageous defence, meant the beginning of the end of the greater Serbian project.

"In Vukovar, the seed of opposition was sewn. In Vukovar, all Flashes and Storms began that brought Croatia freedom. The return of the Croatian military to Vukovar a few days ago only served to additionally confirm this in a symbolic way," said president Grabar-Kitaorivć.

The president said that the names of all defenders of Vukovar will forever remain written into Croatian history and she thanked them for their heroism and the hope they gave to all in the most difficult days of the Croatian state’s birth, whose foundations are built on their actions.

At the awards ceremony, Josip Horvat (known as Madžar), the commander of the 4th battalion of the tank unit of the 204th Vukovar brigade, gave thanks in the name of everyone saying that they were receiving these medals after 26 years. "Few people know that we captured two tanks and had a tank unit until the very fall of Vukovar that was used in battle against the enemy. It is an honor for the president to have recognized us Vukovar veterans after so many years," said Horvat.

Source: HRT