16-meter high Lily monument unveiled in Gradačac

A monument to the defenders of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been unveiled in the village of Bandera near Gradačac, reports Patria News Agency. 

The monument, in the shape of a lily, is 16 meters high, and the memorial complex where it is located covers two dunams of land. 

A large number of citizens from all over the country attended the opening of the Lily memorial, and the monument was unveiled by member of the Presidency of BiH Bakir Izetbegović and reisu-l-ulema Husein efendija Kavazović. 

- This is the gate of BiH. 624 fighters testified with their lives to the story of the defense of BiH, along with thousands of wounded. Gradačac and the 107th Brigade defended the essence of BiH that Alija Izetbegović envisioned. This monument shows the greatness of our struggle. We proved that we are a nation that does not accept humiliation. The nation did not defend itself; someone organized all of this, just as they organized the construction of this monument. The struggle lasted 1,250 days, and BiH did not fall. We respect everyone who built this country. We respect the Celts, Illyrians, Bosnian kings from whom we have the lily, we respect the Ottomans and Austro-Hungary, and the Partisans, because we were the most convinced Yugoslavs - Izetbegović said from Gradačac. 

Reis Kavazović emphasized that he is particularly happy that the monument is in Gradačac, his hometown. 

- This place is the land of Gradaščević, where our two greatest sons were born, Husein-kapetan Gradaščević and, within his captaincy, Alija Izetbegović in nearby Bosanski Šamac. We should proudly emphasize that this is the gate of BiH - Kavazović stated. 

The president of the construction committee for the Lily monument, Alaga Džekić, said that 77,000 KM was spent on the construction of the monument, and 75,000 KM on the access road.