Memorial hike "1,601 Flower" in memory of murdered children of Sarajevo

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Minister for Veterans' Affairs of Sarajevo Canton Ismir Jusko joined today on Trebević the second memorial hike "1,601 Flower" in which nearly 200 students from six primary and one secondary school participated, who in 2018 planted 1,601 roses in memory of children killed during the siege of Sarajevo.

The memorial hike was organized by the Ecologists' Association "Arboretum", with the support of the Ministry for Veterans' Affairs of Sarajevo Canton. Minister Jusko greeted the participants of the hike and emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of children killed during the siege of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1995.

„How many future doctors, engineers, craftsmen, athletes were among the murdered children of Sarajevo, who were brutally deprived of the opportunity to realize their dreams. That is why we must remember and hope that this will never happen to anyone again. Dear children, you must know that those children died in classrooms together with their teachers,“ said Minister Jusko and told the gathered children that when they sometimes lose motivation for learning, they should remember the war generations and under what circumstances they completed their schools, and let that be their motivation for the future to first of all be good people and excellent students.

„Thanks to the numerous victims during the aggression, we live in peace and freedom today. Use that, learn and give your best to become good people and experts in various fields. I wish you and your parents all the best in life,“ added Minister Jusko.

He thanked the organizers of the memorial hike and said that he had initiated the planting of 11,508 tree saplings at a location to be provided by the Government of Sarajevo Canton.

„It will be a tree-lined avenue to pay tribute to all murdered citizens of Sarajevo during the longest siege of a city in history. Activities have been launched, as well as a number of other projects we plan in the coming period,“ said Minister Jusko.

The participants of the hike gathered at the starting station of the cable car, after which they will hike to the top of Trebević.

The „Arboretum“ Association provided a sufficient number of mountain guides, a medical team, sandwiches, juices and water.