Jakšić in Knin: Today We Must Remember How Important Unity and Love for the Homeland Are
Croatia marks the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm, with the central ceremony held in Knin amid messages of dignity and remembrance for veterans.
Croatia marks the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm, with the central ceremony held in Knin amid messages of dignity and remembrance for veterans.
On Wednesday, Croatia celebrates Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, Croatian Veterans Day, and the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm. The central ceremony is held in Knin, where mayors and members of parliament gathered ahead of the program to emphasize the importance of unity and preserving the memory of the sacrifice of Croatian veterans.
Mišel Jakšić, the mayor of Koprivnica and a member of the Croatian Parliament, thanked all those who sacrificed their health and lives for Croatia's freedom. He stressed that today carries a lasting message for the entire society.
"This is a day when we must all remind ourselves how important unity and love for the homeland are. We should not do this only when we are here, but every day, because only then can we build a better, fairer, and more responsible society than the one we have today," Jakšić said for Novi list.
Member of Parliament Ivan Račan reflected on the burden of the Homeland War borne by all citizens. "This day primarily reminds me of everything we went through together during the Homeland War. Everyone carried its burden in their own way, through various sacrifices. The greatest burden was borne by those who lost their lives and those who directly participated in the war. However, the war left its mark on all of us who lived through it, and everyone remembers it in their own way," he said.
Marijo Ćaćić, the mayor of Knin, congratulated citizens on the holidays and confirmed that the city is ready for the commemoration. He also addressed the question of a smaller turnout in recent years, emphasizing that the quality of the program matters more to him than the sheer number of visitors.
"I have never speculated about the number of visitors, and I think that is very ungrateful. This is not a round anniversary, and we did not expect numbers like 100,000 people, but I am very satisfied with the turnout," Ćaćić stated.
He also said that the military equipment exhibition and the city streets were already well attended in the morning hours, and he expects even more visitors as the day progresses.
Borislav Lapenda Lav, president of the Association of Veterans of the 4th Guards Brigade, said that Victory Day awakens in him pride and emotions that are present every day. He noted that it is positive that Operation Storm has recently been commemorated in other parts of Croatia as well, and he partially attributes the smaller turnout in Knin to the heat and the aging of the veteran population. Speaking about the country's progress, he emphasized that Croatia and its army have made a great leap forward, and that establishing their own state was a dream of the Croatian people that lasted a thousand years.
The military-police operation Storm began on August 4 and lasted until August 7, 1995. Nearly 200,000 members of the Croatian Army and Police participated in the operation, liberating over 11,000 square kilometers of occupied territory in 85 hours, which is 18.4 percent of Croatia's total area. During the operation, 243 Croatian veterans lost their lives, 1,430 were wounded, and two are still listed as missing.
Today, the Croatian flag will be raised at the Knin Fortress, and 245 cadets of the Croatian Army and Police Academy trainees will line up in memory of fallen and missing veterans. The program includes the highest state officials, as well as demonstrations of the capabilities of the Croatian Army and Police, and a flight program by the Croatian Air Force.
