24.03.2015.
Day of Remembrance of the killed in NATO aggression
On the 16th anniversary of the beginning of NATO aggression on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic, accompanied by Deputy Head of the General Staff Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic and Head of the Training Command Staff Brigadier General Dejan Jankovic, laid a wreath on the Monument to Defenders of the Homeland 1998-1999 at Rasina barracks in Krusevac.The commemorative gathering was attended by families and friends of the victims of the bombing, representatives of local government and persons from public and cultural life of the Krusevac area.
After the commemoration for the killed members of the Armed Forces of Serbia, held by Episcope David with the clergy of the eparchy, Minister Gasic reminded that this was the day when, for the first time after WWII, sirens were heard and that, in the 78 days of bombing Serbia was exposed to demolition and devastation whose scars are still visible today.
- On this, not so distant, spring, bombs hit houses, hospitals, city roadways and paths, streets. Over 3,500 lives were lost and 12,500
people were wounded – Minister Gasic reminded, adding that the memories of these days do not grow pale, but warn and hurt and oblige us to remember them.Minister stressed that the world must never again allow something like that to happen, and that we must all look into the future together and bravely step into a better tomorrow.
- New buildings rose from the ruins, what had been built for decades and then was gone in a blink of an eye was reconstructed, but one cannot be compensated – the lives of the killed victims – Bratislav Gasic said and stressed that it is therefore our duty and obligation to mark the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the bombing and take care of those who had lost their loved ones, and to tell future generations about their great sacrifice for the homeland.
Wreaths were also laid at the Monument to the defenders of the homeland by representatives of local government, Managing District of Rasina and citizens’ associations.
After the commemorative ceremony, Head of the Training Command Staff Brigadier General Dejan Jankovic received at Car Lazar barracks the families of the SAF members killed in NATO bombing.
The Day of Remembrance of the victims of the NATO bombing was also marked in all commands, units and institutions of the Armed Forces of Serbia,
Head of the General Staff of Serbia General Ljubisa Dikovic attended the marking of the Day of Remembrance at the Air Force and Air Defence Brigade in Zemun.Deputy Head of the General Staff Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic attended the marking of the Day of Remembrance at the 250th Air Defense Missile Brigade and laid a wreath at the monument to the killed members of the Brigade, at Banjica barracks in Belgrade, For their sacrifice and contribution to the defence of the country in 1999, the 250th Missile Brigade was decorated with the Order of National Hero, and was awarded the Gramata of Patriarch Pavle in 2004.
Wreaths were laid at the memorial to the victims of NATO aggression on FRY and next to the memorial chapel to the killed citizens of Nis by the delegation of the Army Command, headed by Head of Staff Brigadier General Zarko Lazarevic.
Wreath laying ceremonies were also held in other barracks across Serbia, and SAF members also participated in commemorative activities organized by cities and municipalities, veteran and other organizations that foster military tradition.
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