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Red beret – a symbol of heroism, honour and courage
"The red beret brought freedom to the state of Croatia. The 4th Guards Brigade was a symbol of Split, Dalmatia and of Croatia, "said the Defence Minister Damir Krstičević.
The 29th anniversary of the establishment of the 4th Guards Brigade “Pauci” and the anniversary of the 3rd Mechanised Battalion “Pauci” of the Guards Mechanised Brigade of the Croatian Army were marked in Split on 28 April 2020.
The anniversary ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, by the Minister of Homeland War Veterans Tomo Medved, by the Commander of the Croatian Army Major General Boris Šerić, by the Commander of the 3rd Mechanised Battalion “Pauci” Major Ivica Armanda and by the President of the Association of Veterans of the 4th Guards Brigade Hrvoje Pupić Vurilj Wreaths were laid at the memorial plaque at the entrance to Vila “Dalmacija”, at the monument to the 4th Guards Brigade in Split and in front of the memorial chapel of the Holy Cross at Dračevac (the base of the 4th Guards Brigade).
Minister Krstičević, the wartime commander of the 4th Guards Brigade, congratulated the members of the Brigade and Battalion: ”We extend appreciation to all members and commanders of the Brigade for earning the status and the honour, and in particular to its fallen members.
The strength of the 4th Guards Brigade was best described by our wartime Defence Minister Gojko Šušak, who said that the Croatian Army had seven brigades, who were all well-organised but the 4th Guards Brigade made a difference! The red beret worn by the Brigade’s members was a symbol of heroism, honour, courage and victory. It brought freedom to Croatia. The 4th Guards Brigade was a symbol of Split, Dalmatia and of Croatia”, said the Defence Minister Damir Krstičević.
The Minister reminded that the memorial chapel of Holy Cross was erected at the Brigade Base at Dračevac in honour to the 199 fallen members of the Brigade at Dračevac: “It is our duty and responsibility to guard the memory of them and of their families.”
Personnel deployed to Lithuania
The Minister also said that the members of the successor’s Battalion “Pauci” proudly continued the tradition of the legendary 4th Guards Brigade: “The Mechanised Battalion and the Croatian Armed Forces guarantee peace and security for Croatia!
The Minister of Homeland War Veterans Tomo Medved commended the operation and commitment of the veterans and associations of the 4th Guards Brigade:”I am congratulating on the 29th anniversary and expressing appreciation for your contribution to the homeland during the Homeland War”.
The Commander of the 3rd Mechanised Battalion ”Pauci”, Major Ivica Armanda mentioned in his address 166 members of the Battalion deployed in 2nd HRVCON to Lithuania, who addressed a video-conferenced message reciting the Brigade’s motto on the occasion of the Battalion Day.
In the memorial room of the 4th Guards Brigade the respects to the fallen and missing defenders of the Homeland War were paid by the Commander of the Guards Mechanised Brigade Colonel Dražen Ressler, by the Chairman of the Veterans Association of the 4th Guards Brigade Hrvoje Pupić Vurilj and by the Commander of the 3rd Mechanised Battalion “Pauci” Major Ivica Armanda.