The 34th anniversary of the formation of the 102nd Odžak Brigade of the Croatian Defense Council (HVO), one of the key units in the defense of the Posavina region, was celebrated today in Odžak.
The commemoration brought together a number of officials, representatives of institutions, veterans’ associations, and the families of the fallen, missing, and deceased members of the brigade, who were once again honored this year.
Before the main ceremony, a municipal delegation led by Mayor Anes Osmanović, together with veterans’ representatives, laid flowers and lit candles at several locations, from Donji Svilaj to Novo Selo, and at the martyrs’ cemetery (šehidsko mezarje) in Odžak.
The ceremony began with a Holy Mass at the Parish Church of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, followed by the commemorative program for the fallen members of the 102ndBrigade at the Central Monument.
Delegations from all levels of government and veterans’ groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia laid wreaths.
The ceremony also included a joint prayer led by parish priest Ilija Orkić and chief imam Jasmin ef. Gobeljić. This added particular weight to this year’s commemoration. Their joint prayer conveyed a message of respect and unity.
A formal ceremony at the Cultural Center included speeches recalling the brigade’s wartime role and its importance in the most difficult periods
Anes Osmanović, Mayor of the Municipality of Odžak,highlighted the importance of unity and mutual understanding.
“This anniversary is not only a reminder of the past, but of obligations towards the future. Homes, families, and the right to life were defended on these territories. Today, when we stand together alongside the lily and the chequerboard symbols as the brigade’s coat of arms, we are making it clear that Odžak has the strength of unity, respect, and coexistence,” Osmanović stated.
He added that these values are the basis of a stable and promising local community.
“We have a duty to remember those who gave everything, while also making sure future generations can live without divisions, in peace and respect,” he said.
The commemoration program ended in a joint gathering of the officials, veterans, and citizens. In the evening hours a prayer was offered for the fallen soldiers in the mosque in Odžak.
It was concluded that the 102nd Odžak Brigade remains a symbol of unity because both Croats and Bosniaks stood together in its units, shared the same destiny, and defended the territory of Posavina, believing in return and life in Odžak, Klix.ba writes.
