The 35th anniversary of the formation of the 132nd Brigade of the Croatian Army was marked in Našice, with the event organised by the town of Našice, the local tourist board, and the Association of Veterans of the Homeland War, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs.
The day-long commemoration began with a tribute to those who gave the most for the freedom of the homeland. Wreaths were laid and candles lit at the ‘Risen Croatia’ memorial in honour of the fallen Croatian defenders. The wreath was laid by the brigade’s commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ante Jurišić, and the company commander, Ivica Tomljanović. Family members of the fallen, missing, and deceased Croatian defenders, as well as Croatian war veterans, laid wreaths, alongside representatives of the Našica town council’s veterans’ commission, former commanders, and representatives of associations of war veterans.
The wreath of the Croatian Parliament Speaker, Gordan Jandroković, was laid by MP Stipan Šašlin. The wreath of Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković was laid by the state secretary Darko Nekić, who also served as the envoy of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Veterans, Tomo Medved. The wreath of Osijek-Baranja County was laid by Josip Miletić, deputy to the county prefect, Nataša Tramišak. The wreath of the Našica Town Council and the town of Našice was laid by the council president, Ines Vulić, mayor Krešimir Kašuba, and council member Denis Klapan, while the wreath of the Municipality of Donja Motičina was laid by head Željko Kovačević and council member Davor Vrabac. Before the wreath-laying ceremony, the Našice Majorettes ‘Dora’ performed a short act.
Following the programme at the memorial, a mass for the homeland and for all fallen and deceased Croatian defenders, particularly those who served in the 132nd Brigade, was held at St Anthony of Padua Parish Church. The central part of the event moved to Lake Lapovac, where a tactical-technical display of weaponry, combat and non-combat equipment, and military gear was set up on the car park from 12:00. From 13:30, a flying and aerobatic display took place over Lake Lapovac, with visitors enjoying the performance of the Croatian Air Force Aerobatic Group ‘Wings of Storm’, a demonstration drill by a Black Hawk UH-60M helicopter, and a flypast by a multi-role Rafale fighter jet. From 15:00, traditional military beans prepared by members of the Urbaria Association were served to all participants and visitors. Creative workshops, a fishing school, and a kite-flying event were prepared for the youngest residents, with ŠUD Šaran Našice and the Našica Community of Technical Culture involved in organising these activities. The Našice Majorettes ‘Dora’ also enlivened the entire programme at Lake Lapovac with their performances.
The evening part of the programme was held at the central town square, where the arrival of marathon runners – participants in the 6th memorial marathon ‘132nd HV Brigade’ – was celebrated. The marathon runners covered the route from Ivanovac to Našice in honour of the brigade’s heroes. The 52-kilometre route from Ivanovac to Našice symbolises the brigade’s wartime path, through which more than 5,000 defenders passed, with each kilometre of the race dedicated to the memory of bravery, with special piety towards the 59 fallen knights and more than 200 wounded personnel. Darko Beštek, a 100 per cent war invalid who was wounded near Ivanovac, also participated in the race, completing the distance in adapted wheelchairs. Organisers from the Našice Recreational Running Association ‘Nexe Team’ gathered marathon runners from across Croatia for the event, with around 30 ultramarathoners taking part. The Police Academy also joined the race. This emotional and sporting challenge concluded at the ‘Risen Croatia’ memorial, where participants and representatives of the town of Našica, including council president Ines Vulić and mayor Krešimir Kašuba, jointly lit candles to pay tribute to the heroes of the Homeland War. The celebration ended with a performance by the tamburitza ensemble Pet tambura, which gathered many citizens at the square from 19:30.
In Bučavci, the 35th anniversary of the liberation of the settlement was marked, considered the first liberated place in the Homeland War. Deputy Sisačko-Moslavačka County Prefect Mihael Jurić attended the commemoration. After gathering at the Croatian Veterans’ Home in Kutina, participants marched towards Bučavci alongside members of the ‘Vilenjaci’ Motorcycle Club and the Sisačko-Moslavačka County Marathon Runners Association ‘Heroes Do Not Die’. Candles were lit and wreaths laid at the memorial plaque in Bučavci to pay tribute to the Croatian defenders who participated in the liberation of the settlement. Bučavci was liberated on 14 October 1991 in a joint operation by the 56th Company from Kutina, the 2nd Company of the 105th Brigade of the National Guard Corps from Čazma, and reserve police. After several hours of fighting, rebel forces withdrew towards Lovska, and members of the 1st Platoon of the 56th Kutina Company were the first to enter Bučavci. The liberation of the settlement boosted the morale of Croatian defenders and the local population, marking an important moment in the defence and liberation of western Slavonia. As part of the commemoration, wreaths were also laid at the memorial in Janja Lipa.
