ZAGREB, June 20, 2018 - A memorial plaque commemorating allied British and American soldiers who were killed on Vis during the Second World War was formally unveiled at a ceremony on that Croatian island on Tuesday.
The plaque commemorates the 49 soldiers of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and 29 U.S. soldiers who died during the war on the island. Also, the local military graveyard at Milna on Vis, with the graves of those soldiers, was renovated.
Attending the ceremony, Croatian Defence Minister Damir Krstičević said that it was the duty of everybody to keep the memories of the heroes who fell for freedom.
The plaque was unveiled by U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Robert Kohorst and Deputy British Ambassador Peter Clements.
Recalling that between 8,000-12,000 soldiers were stationed on the island of Vis in WWII, Ambassador Kohorst said that the killed soldiers had given their lives for freedom the coming generations could enjoy.
Kohorst particularly thanked the Croatian Defence Ministry for organising the commemoration and said he could proudly underscore that Croatian and U.S. soldiers were nowadays partners who took part in NATO-led activities in Poland and missions worldwide. We Americans are proud of standing side by side with Croatian soldiers in NATO in the coalition's operations worldwide, the U.S. diplomat said.
Deputy British Ambassador Clements too underlined the importance of Vis in WWII, saying two things were being commemorated today, individual sacrifice and the courage of every soldier who lost his life here.
We are all aware of the role this island played in WWII and the biggest sacrifice made by those whose acts we are commemorating today. The courage and determination shown here both by those who died and those who survived will always be remembered, both in Croatia and the United Kingdom and elsewhere, Clements said. Here we are also celebrating the alliance, cooperation and friendly relations between our three countries, he added, mentioning the cooperation within NATO.
It is this spirit of cooperation, teamwork and understanding that has defined the relations between Croatia, the United States and the United Kingdom until today. This also applies to the excellent relations between our armed forces, both through NATO and within the broader spectrum of our partnership, said Clements.
He said the foundations of today's relations were laid here on Vis thanks to the people who gave their lives so that today we could live in peace.
