HOMELAND GRATITUDE DAY COMMEMORATED ACROSS CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 1875 ) ZAGREB, Aug 5 (Hina) - Homeland Gratitude Day was commemorated across Croatia on Wednesday, with wreaths laid at town cemeteries and masses served in every county in remembrance of victims of the Homeland War and others who had fought for their country's freedom and independence. Promotions were also awarded to military officers and honorary ranks to the families of killed defenders on the public holiday, which marks the anniversary of Croatia's military operation "Storm" during the summer of 1995 that resulted in the liberation of areas occupied for almost four years by Serb paramilitary forces. In Zadar's town cemetery today a monument was unveiled to all killed Croatian defenders from the region surrounding the central Adriatic city. The monument lists the names of 487 killed Croatian defenders, of which 233 were from the Zadar County. Wreaths were then laid at the monument by county, city, war victims and defenders association, military, police and political party representatives. In Croatia's second largest city Split, Homeland Gratitude Day was observed with the laying of wreaths in front of the Main Cross at the Lovrinac cemetery by various military, civil, county and city delegations. A wreath was also laid by United States Ambassador to Croatia William Montgomery and a delegation from the American destroyer USS Deyo, which is currently visiting the southern Adriatic port city. Ceremonies were also organised at the Croatian Navy barracks in Lora and the airforce base in Divulje. Homeland Gratitude Day had special significance in the central Croatian town of Petrinja. Mayor Josip Dolenec thanked members of the Croatian Army's 2nd Guards Brigade "Thunder", which is based in the town, for their efforts in liberating Petrinja on August 6, 1995. Members of 118 families of killed defenders and liberators of Petrinja were also present at the awards ceremony at the local army barracks and the laying of wreaths at the St Benedict cemetery main cross. Today also marked the seventh anniversary of the establishment of the Croatian National Guard corps in the town, with soldiers taking part in a soccer tournament. In Vrlika, residents and municipal officials remembered the small southern inland town's liberation three years ago by laying wreaths at the main cross and holding a mass and special council meeting. A county road was opened, highlighting the area's post-war reconstruction. Homeland Gratitude Day was also commemorated in the eastern Croatian city of Osijek, where wreaths were laid by county, city, military and war victims associations at the Chapel of Our Lady of Peace. A promotions ceremony was held at the Drava military barracks where Djakovo Military District deputy commander Staff Brigadier Zvonko Peternel said operation "Storm" paved the way for the peaceful reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem back into Croatia's constitutional and legal system. In the nearby once occupied settlements of Ernestinovo and Laslovo, among those laying wreaths was a group of Hungarian students working on the clearing up of public facilities. Similar commemorations and military ceremonies were also held in Gospic, Otocac, Plitvice Lakes and Senj in the central Lika-Senj County, the northern Adriatic cities of Pula and Rijeka, the northern inland towns of Varazdin, Cakovec, Krizevci and Koprivnica, the central Croatian cities of Karlovac and Sisak, the eastern town of Vinkovci, the southern inland town of Sinj and the southern Adriatic city of Dubrovnik. Today also marked the days of the town of Slunj and the municipalities of Krnjak, Vojnic and Rakovica, which were parts of Karlovac County once under occupation. (Hina) mbr 051713 MET aug 98