Anniversary of the muster of members of the First Police Brigade Stari Grad

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Families of the fallen and veterans of the First Police Brigade Stari Grad Sarajevo today marked the 27th anniversary of the muster of the members of this brigade, and by reciting Fatiha, a minute of silence and laying flowers, they paid tribute to the fallen fighters and martyrs.

Members of the First Police Brigade Stari Grad Sarajevo, along with the Patriotic League and the Green Berets, participated in the organization of resistance against the aggression committed against the independent Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

With the aim of boosting morale in the city of Sarajevo, on this day in 1992, on the site of today's Alija Izetbegović Liberation Square, a ceremonial muster of 750 members of this brigade was held, and it was the first muster of the defense forces of the state of BiH.

After that, there was a mass enlistment of Sarajevo citizens into the ranks of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the then Territorial Defense, which proved crucial for the defense of the capital city.

The Mayor of Stari Grad Municipality, Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, attended today's commemoration, as in previous years, and together with representatives of the executive and legislative authorities of the Municipality, laid flowers on the memorial plaque and paid tribute to the fallen members of the brigade. Hadžibajrić recalled that this is the 27th anniversary of the muster of the First Police Brigade Stari Grad.

"It was the first armed formation that confronted the aggressor at the beginning of the war. On that day, many people were mustered, both reserve and active police officers. This brigade was the first to stand in defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, and Stari Grad," stated Hadžibajrić.

The then commander of one of the wartime stations of the First Police Station Stari Grad, Alija Jašarević, recalled that 27 years ago, a ceremonial muster of 750 members of the First Police Brigade Stari Grad Sarajevo was held at Alija Izetbegović Liberation Square.

"The mayor and the commanders of the wartime stations agreed to organize the muster in order to give the citizens morale and faith that they are not alone and that we will defend this city and their lives," said Jašarević.

Sejdalija Sejfić is one of the members of the First Police Brigade Stari Grad Sarajevo.

"I was 24 years old then. It was truly a great pleasure and honor for me to be mustered here with my friends. What hurts me the most is that a large number of guys were killed," said Sejfić.

Among those present was Emir Agić, the son of the martyr Hakija Agić. He said that this commemoration means a lot to him, as well as to his children.

"Together with my father's colleagues, we remember all the fallen fighters. We children, together with these people, will never forget this," Emir explained.

During the defensive-liberation war, 1,230 fighters fought in the ranks of the First Police Brigade Stari Grad Sarajevo, and 44 members of this brigade gave their lives in the defense of their homeland.