Anniversary of the death of 12 members of the First Podrinje Brigade marked

In front of the memorial at Šip, erected in memory of the fallen members of the First Podrinje Brigade, the 22nd anniversary of the death of 12 members of that brigade during an attempt to break the siege of Sarajevo was marked today, reports the BH News Agency Patria.

Family members of the fallen, comrades-in-arms, representatives of the Sarajevo Canton, the City Administration, and the municipalities of Centar and Novi Grad, as well as veteran associations, laid flowers and paid tribute to the fallen members of the First Podrinje Brigade by reciting Fatiha or observing a minute of silence.

On July 31, 1992, in cooperation with local units from the municipalities of Centar, Vogošća, Novi Grad, and a unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they attempted to break the siege of the city and connect it with the free territory in Goražde via Poljine and Vogošća.

The Mayor of Centar Municipality, Dževad Bećirević, laid flowers, as did the Chairman of the Municipal Council, Nedžad Ajnadžić, and councilors Amel Mekić and Suvad Kerla.

Nedžad Ajnadžić, wartime commander of the First Podrinje Brigade and the First Corps of the Army of RBiH, said that on this honorable and proud historical site, all patriots who participated in the defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina should be congratulated.

- We must take on obligations towards the families of martyrs and fallen soldiers, as well as all those who participated in the defense of BiH and who made the greatest sacrifice during the defense of our country, for the sake of peace and the future of our children and future generations. We must not forget what happened during the past war in these areas when it was honorable to defend BiH, because forgetting is an enemy of the defenders of BiH and the honorably written pages of our history, and an enemy of our state – said Ajnadžić, reports Patria.

Maida Prazina, wife of Asim Prazina, battalion commander of the First Podrinje Brigade, also attended the marking of this anniversary.

- Even after 22 years since Asim's death, the pain is equally present, and it gets harder and harder in my heart every day. I know that life goes on and one must live. Our Denis was seven years old when his father died, and now I have my grandson, who is my greatest joy in life. No one can bring back Asim's love and his life for me – said Maida.

Delegations also laid flowers in front of the nearby memorial at Šip, where plaques with the names of 57 fallen members of the Army of RBiH were placed, and paid them due tribute.