28.09.2024.
Minister Gašić unveils memorial bust to Đorđe Mihailović, attends ceremony marking 106th anniversary of Salonica front breakthrough
As part of a state ceremony commemorating the 106th anniversary of the Salonica front breakthrough, Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić, accompanied by Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Nemanja Starović, unveiled today a memorial bust to Đorđe Mihailović in front of the man’s house located in the Serbian Military Cemetery Zeitenlik in Thessaloniki.
Accompanied by Col. Goran Nestorović and Col. Dejan Stanišić, Minister Gašić laid wreaths at the Serbian Military Cemetery in Zeitenlik and on the grave of Đorđe Mihailović, the long-time keeper of the Serbian Military Cemetery.In his speech, Minister Gašić said that “it’s been a little over a year since the soul of Đorđe Mihailović, our uncle Đorđe, moved to the Kingdom of Heaven to join the immortal companies of Serbian heroes of the Salonica front”.
- Here, in Zeitenlik, uncle Đorđe carefully guarded the Serbian Military Cemetery for over half a century, keeping alive the memory of the victims of the most glorious part of our history, until he himself became its living image. In his appearance and voice, we could see and hear our great-grandfathers who had given their lives for the ideal of freedom of our homeland. Those who did not live to celebrate their patron saint days in their homes ever again, spoke to us through him. In his words, we could hear both a lesson and a warning that Serbia's freedom is an ideal that must never be abandoned - Minister Gašić stressed.According to him, every victim buried here is a vow made to the Lord that in His name, we must defend our country with honour and hand it over to our successors as the icon of our patron saint.
- We have gathered here, at Đorđe Mihailović’s resting place, to honour him and his work and to pay our respects to almost 7,500 of our ancestors whose earthly remains rest in Zeitenlik. Today we remind ourselves that what we are and what we have did not come with us, but was won by our ancestors who suffered and died for it - said the Minister of Defence.
Uncle Đorđe erected the biggest monument to himself during his lifetime, he said.- By working quietly and patiently for decades, he incorporated himself into the monumental mosaic of memories of the great Salonica front heroes. And we, as his grateful contemporaries and descendants, are paying tribute to his work and sacrifice with this modest monument that we are unveiling today. May the Lord grant his soul eternal rest among the righteous! May the Salonica heroes rest in peace! Long live Serbia - said Minister Gašić.
The Minister of Defence signed Zeitenlik’s guest book, inscribing the following message - Death, those you have defeated will live crowned with eternal glory. Long live Serbia and our glorious history!
Speaking about the Salonica front breakthrough in 1918, Minister Starović, who officiated the state ceremony, said that it had brought about the liberation of the Kingdom of Serbia and brought an end to the First World War, and had rightfully gone down in the history of both the Serbian people and all of Europe as one of the most important historical events.- Serbs remember the period from 1914 to 1918 as a time of great suffering, but also as a time of greatest heroism and eternal glory. The famous victories of the Serbian army made an important contribution to the decisive victory of the Entente. Serbian soldiers demonstrated their heroism to the whole world in the battles of Cer, Kolubara, Kaymakchalan, on the Salonica Front and in all other places where Serbian giants left their graves as an eternal memory of their heroism and martyrdom. Their courage and patriotism inspire us all and are a limitless source of national pride - said Minister Starović.
With the breakthrough of the Salonica front, the Serbian army began the final battles for the liberation of Serbia in the First World War.