Ceremonial Gala Marking 170 Years of the Croatian State Flag, Golden Hall of the Croatian History Institute, Zagreb, 5 June 2018.
The Croatian History Institute, the Croatian History Museum, the Society of Brethren of the Croatian Dragon d the Croatian Heraldic and Vexillological Association (HGZD), organized a ceremonial gala marking the 170 years of the Croatian state flag.
The gala was held in the Golden Hall of the Croatian History Institute, Opatička st. 10, Zagreb, on 5 June 2018 under the auspices of the President of the Republic Ms. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the Croatian Parliament and the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
The director of the Croatian History Institute Dr. Jasna Turkalj greeted the audience as the host, followed by the word by head of the other organizing institutions – director of the Croatian History Museum Matea Bristilo-Rešetar, Grand Master of the “Brethren of the Croatian Dragon” Society Prof. Dr. Nevio Šetić and president of the HGZD LtC Dr. Željko Heimer. The representatives of the high patrons greeted the gathering – Renata Margaretić Urlić, counsellor of the President for social affairs and youth, Dr. Tomsilav Sokol, MP and MSc. Zvonimir Frka-Petešić, Chief of Staff of the Prime-minister.
The Croatian History Museum exhibited particularly for this occasions the priceless 170 years old installation flag of the Ban Josip Jelačić, the first Croatian red-white-blue tricolour in official use. That flag was received by the Ban as the symbol of his honour and office on 5 June 1848. During the gala the flag was guarded by a honour guard composed of the members of the Honour and Security Battalion of the Croatian Armed Forces, in their ceremonial dresses. They also performed the ceremonial changing of the guard during the event.
The introduction was the Croatian national anthem, sung by the Academic Male Choir of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, led by the conductor mo. Josip degl’ Ivellio. During the event they also performed the almost forgotten song “Croatian Banner” by Vilim Just and number of well known patriotic songs from the 19th century.
The essays on Croatian state flag were read by Msc. Jelena Borošak Marijanović (Croatian History Museum) „Ban Jelačić’s Flag – Precursor of the Croatian state flag“, Dr. Mario Jareb (Croatian History Institute) „Croatian Tricolour through Seventeen Decades“ and LtC Dr. Željko Heimer (HGZD) „The Flag of the Republic of Croatia“.
Finally, Dr. Jareb, in the name of the organizers, red a Proclamation, in which these four institutions start the initiative to establish the Day of Croatian Flag, as an official memorial day on 5 June, to be marked annually in Croatia.
Ceremonial Gala Marking 170 Years of the Croatian State Flag, Golden Hall of the Croatian History Institute, Zagreb, 5 June 2018.
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