Donja Motičina was filled with emotion and memories of the brave people who set out for the Hero City 35 years ago. The 35th anniversary of this historic event was marked in front of the memorial to the fallen defenders in Donja Motičina, with the municipality of Donja Motičina observing the 27th of September, the day the defenders set off for Vukovar.
On 27 September 1991, 67 brave knights from Našica set off to defend Vukovar. Among them were 15 residents of Donja Motičina. Of the 15 defenders from Motičina, five were killed in the battles for the city, and six died after the war due to injuries sustained. Today, four are still alive: Davor Batrac, Siniša Martinović, Antun Vrbanc and Ivica Mihaljević.
The tribute was led by the defenders of Donja Motičina: Davor Batrac-Keks, Siniša Martinović and Antun Vrbanc, as well as the mayor of the municipality, Željko Kovačević, and the president of the municipal council, Ružica Mikičić. The ceremony was attended by the families of the fallen, relatives and friends, as well as a large number of local residents and association members.
Davor Batrac said that these were extremely emotional moments and that 35 years on, the grief for friends who are no longer with us and the pride are both immense. He said that 15 of them had left from Motičina to defend Vukovar, but only four are still alive. The heroes who must never be forgotten are Alojz Nikodem, Branko Ušak, Ivan Radaić, Muhamed Jahić, Dubravko Mikičić, Antun Martinović, Darko Batrac, Josip Pažan, Mirko Glavaš, Dragan Vinković and Luka Knežević.
The mayor of the municipality, Željko Kovačević, said that it was difficult to speak today, especially given those who are no longer with us, but that this was a tribute to the heroes: lighting the lamps, laying flowers, praying and remembering them in silence. He pointed out that, according to records and research by historians, Donja Motičina had provided the most Croatian defenders in the Homeland War and the most defenders of Vukovar.
The 35th anniversary and the laying of flowers were attended by the Vukovar heroine, Vaslia Tucker, who had survived a severe wounding with 11 bullet wounds in the 1991 Srem campaign. She said that it was a special honour to be here today with her Keks and friends from Vukovar, with whom she had shared the hardest days of the war.
Dva Batrac, on the day of his departure, 27 September, 1991, shouted to his friends: 'Greet my mother and father and tell them I have gone to Vukovar and will return quickly!'
