Dubrovnik unveils monument honouring children killed in Homeland War

(Photo: Grad Dubrovnik)

A memorial dedicated to children killed during Croatia’s Homeland War was officially unveiled at the Port of Gruž in Dubrovnik today in the presence of families of the victims, government officials and members of the public.

The monument, conceived as a composition of colourful pencils, symbolises interrupted childhoods and preserves the memory of children who lost their lives during the conflict between 1991 and 1995.

The memorial honours 15 children from Dubrovnik whose lives were cut short during the war: Andrea Banović, Nikolina Banović, Đuro Bokun, Marija Burum, Hrvoje Gunjina, Katarina Gunjina, Romano Kralj, Luka Lukšić, Šimo Matković, Dolores Paskojević, Vlaho Rakidžija, Tonći Skočko, Maris Šaban, Maro Šaban and Miho Tomičić.

(Photo: Grad Dubrovnik)

Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković said the monument represented a permanent place of remembrance and responsibility.

“Today we stand before a monument which is not only a marker of one period in time, but a place of lasting memory, pain and responsibility,” Franković said during the ceremony.

He added that the memorial was also intended to remind future generations of the value of peace and freedom, while preserving the truth about the suffering endured during the war.

(Photo: Grad Dubrovnik)

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković described the monument as a symbol of “broken pencils, lost lives and interrupted childhoods”.

He also recalled that Croatia introduced an official Day of Remembrance for Children Killed in the Homeland War last year, marked annually on 3 May, in memory of the 402 children who lost their lives during the conflict across the country.

(Photo: Grad Dubrovnik)

Speaking at the event, Marija Lukšić, president of the Association of Croatian Civilian Victims of the Homeland War in Dubrovnik-Neretva County and mother of a child killed in the war, said the pain of losing a child never disappears.

“There are wounds that never heal, but are carried with dignity, quietly and with faith that the sacrifice of our children will never be forgotten,” she said.

The artistic concept behind the monument was presented by academic sculptor Dalibor Stošić, one of the authors of the project alongside designer and architect Hrvoje Bilandžić.

Stošić explained that the colourful pencils were chosen instead of symbols of war to reflect childhood innocence, creativity and unfinished lives.

(Photo: Grad Dubrovnik)

“Fifteen broken pencils stand for fifteen children who can no longer draw, but whose colours Dubrovnik will not forget,” he said.

The ceremony also included a blessing by Dubrovnik Bishop Roko Glasnović, poetry recitals and musical performances by local school pupils and choirs. A flyover by Croatian Air Force Rafale aircraft was held in tribute to the victims.

The memorial forms part of a wider public park project selected through a public competition organised by the City of Dubrovnik and the Croatian Architects’ Association. Parents of the victims were actively involved throughout the process, from selecting the location to choosing the final design solution.