Men who donated blood more than one hundred times and women with donations more than seventy-five times received the decorations.
He thanked the awarded blood donors because they "selflessly give themselves" in the hope that a younger generation will stand in their place and continue with the same noble practice of giving themselves, "in a country where volunteerism, helping others without compensation and without counter-service is poorly developed."
"This is where we lag behind the Western European countries, which may not be as warm and friendly as our people, but when you need help, they are there. The big exception in Croatia is voluntary blood donors. That's you," Milanović pointed out.
Igor Kontošić thanked the President on behalf of those decorated, saying that they are proud of the fact that with their blood they helped save or prolong someone's life, stressing that for them donating blood is a "way of life" that fulfils and makes them happy.
The ceremony in the President's Office was attended by the Deputy Executive President of the Croatian Red Cross Marina Pinjagić Telak, Head of the Department for Voluntary Blood Donation Božica Bortek and Head of the Department for Voluntary Blood Donation Šani Samardžić.