13.12.2021.
Minister Stefanović Received the Cross of Vozhd Đorđe Stratimirović
Today, the Centre for Development of Šajkaška decorated Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović PhD with the Cross of Vozhd Đorđe Stratimirović. This decoration, established on the occasion of the repatriation and interring the mortal remains of General and Vozhd Đorđe Stratimirović in Serbia after 113 years, was presented to Minister Stefanović by Professor Ivan Stratimirović.
Minister Stefanović expressed his gratitude for this exceptional recognition stating:
“Your ancestor, General Stratimirović, was a person who needs no introduction; a superb commander, owing to whom the Serbian Army won key victories in the middle of 19th century, thus preserving Serbian Vojvodina, and he was also well known and renowned diplomat. He was an exceptional person, not only in military terms but in general terms as well. For a minister of defence, receiving his decoration bears a particular meaning. I feel truly honoured and I am immensely grateful for being able to call myself the holder of his decoration from this day onwards.
According to Minister Stefanović, regrettably, we, in Serbia, often allowed that our great men and their deeds fall into oblivion.
“I am extremely proud of the fact that our state, headed by President Aleksandar Vučić, found a way to finally fulfil the Vozhd’s last wish, more than one century later. His wish was to find his eternal resting place in Sremski Karlovci, on Serbian soil that he loved and respected the most. Vozhd Stratimirović was and remained a powerful symbol of the unity of the Serbian people so it is all the more important that he rests in his homeland. I am proud because today we are righting various wrongs and we are working on raising the awareness of our children of the great ancestors that we have. It is an obligation of all of us. I, myself, with all associates in the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, make efforts and I will keep on trying even harder so that we do not forget our ancestors, the heroes and the sacrifice that they suffered for the country, and that we protect all our soldiers and heroes of the present day and repay them with great respect and care for them” Minister Stefanović pointed out.
Representatives of the Centre for Development of Šajkaška, Board for the repatriation of the mortal remains of Vozhd Đorđe Stratimirović and family members of the Serbian Vozhd thanked Minister Stefanović, the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces for the support and assistance in organising the ceremony held of 27th September in Sremski Karlovci, when the mortal remains of Vozhd Đorđe Stratimirović were transported to Serbia and interred in the Monastery of the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple with the highest military honours.
