15.03.2015.

Commemoration for killed members of the Air Force and Air Defence

Today, at the House of the Air Force in Zemun, a commemorative gathering was held to honor the killed members of the Air Force and Air Defence: Major Omer Mehic, Captain Milovan Djukaric, ensigns Nebojsa Drajic and Ivan Miladinovic that were tragically killed in the helicopter crash.

The commemoration was attended by President of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic, Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic, Head of the General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, representatives of the Government, Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia, and the full hall at the Air Force and Air Defence Command was too small to welcome all friends and colleagues that came to pay their deepest respect for the killed.

After a minute of silence, Air Force and Air Defence Commander Major General Ranko Zivak stressed that the sudden and tragic accident took four colleagues, class mates, companions in arms, and friends from their lines.

As he stressed, the four members of the Air Force and Air Defence had grown as individuals and as pilots in tough times and passed many tests, the educational ones and those of life, and that, thanks to their virtues, dedicated and fair work, they had become top experts that anyone would wish to have as companions in arms and people one could always count on.

- By the nature of their work, they had been and remained strong individuals, but what distinguished them was their team work – General Zivak stressed, particularly pointing out their moral values, humanity and patriotism that had been fully shown last year.

According to him, along with other SAF members, they were always by their people and where they were needed the most.

- They were heroes, always among the first ones and always up to the task. For them, the greatest rewards were the smiles of rescued children and the feeling that they had done something good for their country and citizens – General Zivak stressed, adding that, during their last task, as always, they had given their best, but that the fate had played with them cruelly.

- Our hearts are filled with grief, and with pride, because we had had the honor that such noble men were a part of our forces - Air Force and Air Defence Commander stressed, adding that the Armed Forces of Serbia have lost exceptional airmen, great professionals and patriots, and that their personal and professional qualities, relation to their families, state and work should be a lasting inspiration and role model for future generations of airmen.

According to General Zivak, the Armed Forces of Serbia and its members will do everything in their power to help the families overcome this horrible tragedy.

- This is our debt and commitment, because they were our friends. This is the least we can do for them and for us. Be proud of them – General Zivak stated.

Lieutenant Colonel Miroslav Zecevic, Commander of the 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron where the tragically killed airmen served, also paid his last respects to his colleagues.

- We are gathered here to pay our respects, to tell them our great and sincere “Thank you” for everything they had done for their country, for the Armed Forces, their families and friends – Lieutenant Colonel Zecevic stressed.

While talking about the lives and courage of his colleagues, and the professional challenges they had encountered daily while conducting their tasks, for which they had been awarded many times, Colonel Zecevic stressed that the best ones were killed.

- They are no longer with us, but they will always be beside us, we will always remember all that they did. They are gone now, but the stories of them will forever be told among us, while we live, so will the memory of them. May you rest in peace, and may eternal glory be with you for all the good you did – Lieutenant Colonel Zecevic stressed, telling the families of the killed that they should take consolation in knowing that the four of them had conducted their tasks with honor and saved thousands of lives.

Yesterday, Minister Gasic and General Dikovic visited the families of the tragically killed members of the Air Force and Air Defence.

The funeral for Major Omer Mehic will be held tomorrow in Novi Sad at Lisje Cemetery; on the same day, at the village cemetery in Mosorin near Titel, Captain Milovan Djukaric will be buried, while Ensign Nebojsa Dragic will be buried on Tuesday, at the cemetery in Jakalj Village near Bajina Basta, and the funeral for Ensign Ivan Miladinovic will be held on the same day at the Central Cemetery in Belgrade.