The Army of Republika Srpska and the Third Infantry (Republika Srpska) Regiment celebrated their patron saint day, Vidovdan. The holiday is regarded as one of the most significant dates in Serb history, and officials at the central ceremony in Prijedor said that Republika Srpska represents the fulfillment of the Vidovdan covenant of the Serbs living west of the Drina River. They emphasized that the Army of Republika Srpska played a crucial role in that process and that the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for Republika Srpska must never be forgotten.
More than 220,000 soldiers served in the Army of Republika Srpska, while 23,801 lost their lives during the war. Their sacrifice must not and will not be forgotten, speakers said during the Vidovdan commemoration in Prijedor.
“Every one of us, every Serb soldier, every Serb warrior carried the cross of the Kosovo heroes on his shoulders. Along that path, freedom was reborn, and the sacred institution of Republika Srpska came into being. None of us looked at the strength of the force before us, but rather at the sacred values we were defending,” said Republika Srpska Minister of Labour and Veterans’ Affairs Radan Ostojić.
Prime Minister Savo Minić said that the Vidovdan covenant has remained a symbol in Serb culture and tradition, reminding people to stand in defense of their nation whenever necessary.
“The Homeland Defense War was fought under that very covenant. Whenever we reflect on our history, we must remember that the bravest and the best are no longer among us. The Serb soldier has always stood beneath the right flag. Our tricolour has always been on the right side of history in every war,” Minić said.
Republika Srpska President Siniša Karan said that for more than six centuries, Vidovdan has symbolized the freedom, unity and endurance of the Serb people. He stressed that a nation without its own state cannot survive, nor can it remain free.
“When you think of Vidovdan, you see six centuries of the Serb people’s struggle for freedom. You see its tragedies, defeats, perseverance and rebirth. What we want to say today is that the Serbs west of the Drina have fulfilled both the Saint Sava and the Vidovdan covenant, and that covenant is called Republika Srpska,” Karan said.
The heritage of the Army of Republika Srpska is now preserved by the Third Infantry (Republika Srpska) Regiment of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The Serb soldier has never fought wars of conquest. He has fought only defensive wars and, through that sacrifice, brought freedom not only to the Serb people but also to others,” said Aleksandar Goganović, Deputy Minister of Defence in the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The patron saint day of the Army of Republika Srpska was also marked at the “Vojvoda Stepa Stepanović” Barracks in Bijeljina.
“Vidovdan is one of the greatest dates in the history of the Serb people. It carries messages of courage and freedom, and it is also a day of remembrance for all Serb heroes, from the Battle of Kosovo to the present day,” said Colonel Dragan Stevanović, commander of the barracks.
From the Battle of Kosovo to the Homeland Defense War, Vidovdan remains a symbol of sacrifice and perseverance for the Serb people. Speakers at the ceremony emphasized that these values also carry the responsibility to preserve the tradition of the Army of Republika Srpska and the memory of all those who gave their lives for Republika Srpska.
Source: RTRS
