Anniversary of the death of hero Smail Šikalo, recipient of the "Golden Lily" and Medal for Bravery, marked

(Patria) - By laying flowers and reciting Fatiha at the Memorial in Boljakov potok, representatives of Sarajevo Canton, including the President of the KS Assembly Elvedin Okerić, representative Jasmin Šaljić, and the Minister for Veterans' Affairs of KS Omer Osmanović, marked the 31st anniversary of the death of Smail Šikalo, recipient of the highest wartime awards "Golden Lily" and "Medal for Bravery".

Tribute was also paid to Bosnian-Herzegovinian war heroes, Assistant Commander for Security of the First Motorized Brigade of the Army of RBiH Feriz Tumbul, recipient of the "Golden Lily", who died in the battle for the liberation of Vis on December 8, 1992, as well as company commander from the Third Motorized Brigade Senad Čolić, who died on the same day in Sokolje.

At the Academy dedicated to the aforementioned and all other heroes of the defense of Sarajevo, Minister Osmanović addressed the attendees tonight, among other speakers, stating that hero Smail Šikalo was one of the best among the best.

“We often forget the value of a life and what it meant at that time to leave one's home, with the uncertainty of returning to it. I wish we would appreciate our heroes more, their sacrifice, and the price of our freedom. We are still defending that freedom, and I am sure that our future generations will defend it too. We must not falter on that path, aware that the culture of remembrance is our mechanism for conveying the truth. It is up to us to proudly remember a brave generation of defenders who defended their homeland and gave their most valuable in that fight. May eternal mercy and glory be upon our warriors, and may the message to us be to remember, to warn, and never again allow a similar scenario,” Minister Osmanović conveyed.

The late Smail Šikalo was the commander of the military police of the 2nd Knightly Motorized Brigade of the Army of RBiH and one of the first volunteers to sign up to defend his city at the beginning of the aggression against our country.

He was wounded for the first time in battles near Elektroprivreda in 1992, and for the last time near the settlement of Heroes of Sokolje, when a shrapnel hit him in the head while he was helping a wounded comrade. He succumbed to his injuries seven days later.