Although rain disrupted plans until the end, the people of Kaštela gathered again this year to mark the 30th anniversary of the military-police operation Storm with dignity and pride. The event entitled "Let it not be forgotten", held this Sunday, organized by the HVIDR Kaštela and the City of Kaštela, with the support of the Tourist Board of the City of Kaštela and the Community of County Associations of the HVIDR Požega-Slavonia County, once again reminded of a key moment in Croatian history.
The evening began with a welcoming speech by host Petra Škrinjarić, who invited the audience to remember the significance of Operation Storm – a turning point in the creation of an independent and sovereign Republic of Croatia:
– On August 5, Croatia celebrates Victory and Homeland Gratitude Day and Croatian Defenders' Day, as a commemoration of the victory in the Homeland War, remembering August 5, 1995, when the Croatian Army liberated 10.400 km² of occupied Croatian territory in just 84 hours in the military-police operation Storm. Storm brought freedom, Storm confirmed Croatian state independence - Petra emphasized.
After the national anthem and a minute of silence for all those who died, Petra reminded that the memory of Operation Storm was marked in the morning by laying wreaths at the monument to the first Croatian president, Dr. Franjo Tuđman, and at the Central Cross on Malačka Street. In the emotional part of the evening, she also read the names of the fallen defenders from the Kaštela area.
However, the continuation of the program in the evening hours was interrupted by a severe storm, which caused many visitors to the Starosejski port to flee. Despite everything, the sky above the Kaštela was later lit up by fireworks - a symbolic end to the evening and a strong message that memories will never fade, regardless of the weather (or bad) conditions.
The president of the Kaštela HVIDR, Ivica Vidović, said:
– What can I tell you, 30 years have passed quickly, but when that day comes, many remember different things. There was also a magnificent parade in Zagreb, maybe if the parade had had even more veterans, it would have been better. We always hold our commemoration in Kaštela on August 4th, but because of Thompson's performance in Sinj, we moved it to August 3rd, so that all the fallen veterans can be honored. Their relatives will come later, and we are here to celebrate a little and remember each of them. When I look back 30 years – I didn't understand how it happened after five years. Not only me, but also others. Although we all knew that something would happen, it simply didn't cross our minds. But that moment came. "Maybe we were overjoyed, but such is fate, such is the way it has to be," Vidović said emotionally, adding that they had prepared traditional delicacies for the visitors - black risotto, Slabone sausages and sardines, and the musical group Click Band was supposed to entertain the gathering, although the program was interrupted due to bad weather.
Despite the rain, the same spirit of togetherness that adorned the defenders in the Homeland War and respect for the sacrifice of the Croatian defenders were not absent. "Lest We Forget" remains more than the name of the event - it becomes a vow that the truth about Storm, the Homeland War and the sacrifice of the defenders will live on, year after year.
Gallery: Andrej Valentić
