Candles for Veterans with Stepinac's Message
A delegation from the Zagreb club lit candles in front of the memorial plaque of their patron, Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, on Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day.
A delegation from the Zagreb club lit candles in front of the memorial plaque of their patron, Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, on Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day.
On Wednesday, August 6, 2026, Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Veterans Day were marked at the premises of the Zagreb football club NK Rudeš. A club delegation lit candles in front of the memorial plaque of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, paying tribute to all fallen, missing, and deceased Croatian veterans, as well as to all who participated in the defense and liberation of Croatia during the Homeland War.
On this occasion, the club sent a clear message. "We proudly preserve the memory of their sacrifice and thank all Croatian veterans who enabled us to live in a free and independent Croatia", they stated from NK Rudeš, as reported by Narodno.hr.
The candles burned beside the memorial plaque dedicated to Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, whom the club highlights as its patron. The plaque bears the inscription: "Look up to the sky and do not be afraid", which on this day gained additional symbolism, connecting the spiritual vertical with gratitude for freedom.
With this gesture, NK Rudeš reminded us that sports clubs are not just places for training, results, and competition. Through gatherings of children, parents, supporters, and entire neighborhoods, they play a crucial role in passing on moral principles to younger generations. When a club publicly acknowledges the contribution of Croatian veterans, that message is not confined to management circles but reaches young athletes who know about the Homeland War mostly from family stories and school textbooks.
In times when the observance of national holidays often boils down to protocol and pre-prepared sentences, such a simple gesture-lit candles, the Croatian flag, and a clearly spoken message-brings the focus back to what matters most: gratitude to the people without whom there would be no free Croatia.
NK Rudeš thus showed that patriotism does not have to be a grand spectacle. Sometimes, lit candles and the determination to never forget the veterans' sacrifice are enough.
