Croatia prepares for the annual remembrance of the fall of Vukovar.
The mayor of Vukovar Ivan Penava urged all citizens who will come to Vukovar on Wednesday to take part in the Remembrance Day ceremonies to behave in dignified manner and commemorate the tragedy of the city. The procession will again start from the hospital, with standard-bearers of the Croatian Army and the children of fallen and missing Croatian soldiers as the leaders, reports Vecernji List on November 17, 2015.
“There will be just one official procession. On that day in Vukovar, we should send a message of unity. We will not allow divisions. I invite everyone to join us and to walk in a single procession”, Penava said. The highest government officials have all said they will come to Vukovar on Wednesday, but according to Penava it does not seem that the procession will include the political representatives of Serbs in Croatia. He did say that he had received a number of queries from many non-governmental organizations and associations of Serbs from Croatia. “I am glad, particular due to the fact that they mostly belong to younger people who do not want to suffer for the sins of past generations. I am pleased because in 1991 Vukovar was defended by members of the Serbian minority as well”, Penava said.
Because of the large number of people who are expected to come to Vukovar on Wednesday, special traffic regime will be introduced. In addition to the police, the order during the procession will be monitored by 193 stewards and 20 security guards.
On the main road in Vukovar, along the road where on Wednesday the procession will pass, a banner with the names of the deceased Croatian soldiers has been put up. The banner is over 200 metres long and includes 1,145 names. This is the first time that the names of all those who have laid down their lives for independent Croatia in Vukovar have been publicly presented.
“In this way, we wanted to once again thank these people and repay them for everything they have done in the defence of Vukovar and Croatia. We have received the list of names from the Ministry of Veterans”, the mayor of Vukovar Ivan Penava said. He also announced that there are plans to build a monument at the Memorial Cemetery, or some other location, that would permanently bear witness to the people who gave their lives in Vukovar.
