Konjic monument honoring Croatian war defenders unveiled

On 18 July 2026 a permanent monument was unveiled at the Musala cemetery in Konjic, Bosnia‑and‑Herzegovina, to commemorate Croatian defenders killed or missing during the Homeland War. The dedication was performed by children of the fallen, whose fathers died when they were infants, and was attended by political leaders from both Bosnia‑and‑Herzegovina and Croatia, including Dragan Čović, Darijana Filipović, and Croatian state secretary Zlatan Bašić.

The monument, described as “a lasting sign of grief towards the victims of the war,” is intended to preserve the truth, freedom and memory of the conflict. Participants spoke of the mixed feelings of sorrow and hope, with one child‑defender saying, “We lived without a father, but with God’s help we managed to grow.” The ceremony included a blessing, laying of wreaths and a solemn Mass in the Church of St John the Baptist.

Organisers emphasized the ongoing duty of the Croatian community to safeguard the historical truth of the war and to support the families of the fallen, calling the monument a symbol of resilience and identity for Croats in Bosnia‑and‑Herzegovina.