Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
 
07.10.2015.

Marking 100 years of Belgrade defence in 1915



By laying wreaths and a series of commemorative events, 100th anniversary of the heroic defence of Belgrade in 1915 has been marked in Belgrade today.

On this occasion, on behalf of the City of Belgrade, a City Council member Stevo Tatalovic laid wreaths at the New Cemetery, at the memorial ossuary of the 1915 defenders of Belgrade and the burial place of Major Gavrilovic.

They paid a tribute to the defenders of the homeland by observing a minute of silence, after which Tatalovic said that this day has a special role in the history of Belgrade.

"On this day, 100 years ago, many Serbs stood up to defend their city, their dignity and the nation," Tatalovic recalled adding that on that day they succeeded in showing who they were and what they were.

"In gratitude to them for the future of Serbia and Belgrade, this day we should, we must and we will always celebrate and pay tribute to them, charting a path for the future for ourselves," Tatalović said.

A little later at Kalemegdan, at the church of St. Petka and Ruzica, an event "Paths of Serbian Army" was held, which started with playing the national anthem "God of Justice".

Previously in that church a memorial service was held to honour Major Dragutin Gavrilovic.

On behalf of the City of Belgrade, the audience was welcomed by Deputy Mayor Andreja Mladenovic who said that Belgraders should be proud to remember the struggle in which the regiment of Major Gavrilovic defended Belgrade.

"Their sacrifice is inscribed in golden letters in the difficult but great history of our country. The brightest example of courage and patriotism is the defence of Belgrade 100 years ago, because then our ancestors were not afraid to give their lives for the defence of Belgrade and for the freedom of their homeland," Mladenovic said.

He added that the speech by Major Gavrilovic in which pointed out 100 years ago that the people sacrificed themselves for the honour of Belgrade and the Fatherland and that soldiers no longer need to worry about their lives, should be paradigm for all generations how to treat their own country and the city.

"This is why it is our duty to cherish the memory of them to keep our traditions and upbringing youth in the spirit of courage and dedication continue to fight for the unity of the Serbian people," Mladenovic said adding that Belgrade will continue to keep the memory of the Serbian heroes in the war.

The event "Paths of the Serbian Army" was organized by the Association of Serbian Hosts, and the representative of that association Goran Sredojevic said that the event will take place in the continuity of the next three years throughout Serbia because, as he added, it should remind us of the heroism and martyrdom of the Serbian people and army in the Great Patriotic War.

In the framework of the event, a "tree of memories", oak tree, was planted in honour of Major Gavrilovic and defenders of Belgrade, and apart from that, eminent historians held a public history lesson.
 
 
MOD
Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia, Bircaninova 5 street, Belgrade
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