Biggest ever remembrance procession in Vukovar as 150,000 march
- by croatiaweek
- in News
(Photo credit: Grad Vukovar/Miroslav Štafhauzer)
Today, Vukovar honoured those defenders and civilians who lost their lives, as well as those still missing, during the fall of the city 32 years ago.
During the 87-day siege of Vukovar by the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) between August and November 1991, 2,717 soldiers and civilians were killed, including 34 children aged between 7 months and 17 years old, 1,219 were wounded, and more than 350 Croatian soldiers unaccounted for.
More than 22,000 Croats and other non-Serbs were also expelled from the city.
Today the biggest remembrance procession in Vukovar was witnessed. Starting from the National Memorial Hospital “Dr. Juraj Njavro” Vukovar to the Memorial Cemetery of the Victims of the Homeland War, an estimated 150,000 people from all over Croatia and the world, led by Croatian defenders of Vukovar along with the family members of the fallen, missing, killed, forcibly taken, and deceased Croatian defenders, marched in memory of the Vukovar tragedy.
(Photo credit: Grad Vukovar/Miroslav Štafhauzer)
They were led by members of the Croatian Defence Forces who bravely defended Vukovar.
15,000 people join the remembrance procession today in Vukovar (Photo: Grad Vukovar)
The program “Vukovar – My Choice in Good and Bad Times” in the courtyard of the NMB “Dr. Juraj Njavro” Vukovar was performed by actor Darko Milas, Klapa “Sveti Juraj” HRM, and the Best Croatian Tamburitza Players.
(Photo credit: Grad Vukovar/Miroslav Štafhauzer)
At the Memorial Cemetery of the Victims of the Homeland War, respect was paid through the laying of wreaths.
Wreaths were laid by the last commander of the defence of Vukovar, Branko Borković, with war commanders and family members of the fallen, killed, missing, forcibly taken, and deceased Croatian defenders.
(Photo credit: Grad Vukovar/Miroslav Štafhauzer)
(Photo credit: Grad Vukovar/Miroslav Štafhauzer)
The President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, with a delegation, the President of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandroković, with a delegation, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, with a delegation, the member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina H.E. Denis Bećirović, with a delegation, the prefect of Vukovar-Srijem County, Damir Dekanić, with a delegation, and the mayor of the City of Vukovar, Ivan Penava, with a delegation, also laid wreaths.
(Photo: Grad Vukovar)
The prayer was led by Monsignor Đuro Hranić, the Archbishop of Đakovo-Osijek, followed by the celebration of the Holy Mass for all the victims of the Homeland War, led by Monsignor Giorgio Lingua, the Apostolic Nuncio in the Republic of Croatia.
“Thanks to everyone who came to Vukovar today. Thank you for every step, every lit candle, and every prayer offered for the victims of Vukovar. Thank you for the dignified, proud, magnificent, and most massive remembrance procession!,” the city of Vukovar said.
Video of the procession courtesy of 24sata below.
