Minister of Defense Bratislav Gašić formally opened an art exhibition named “The Battle of Kosovo – Alive History of Serbia” organized as a part of Vidovdan – City Day of Kruševac celebrations. The Head of the Serbian Armed Forces Headquarters General Milan Mojsilović was also present at the opening.
During the opening speech, Minister Gašić stated that the Battle of Kosove had been more than just a historic event for us:
„It is an oath instilled in the center of the identity of Serbian people. The feat of Prince Lazar and his warrior heroes is the standard we measure our own deeds and feats with for centuries. In our culture, Vidovdan has risen to mythical heights, becoming a guiding star from historical and geographical points of our existence. Guided by its symbol, we have overcome the largest temptations a people can face” – said the Minister.
He also discussed about the people’s tradition of magnifying the chivalry and willing sacrifice of the Battle of Kosovo and the defense of their country and faith, condemning discord and despising treason.
“The legend was a beacon of light that showed us the way to the liberation and restoration of the Serbian state in the darkness of slavery. The spirit of the Kosovo oath gathered the rebels in Orašac and Takovo, gave vigor to the Serbian army in both Balkan Wars. Our ancestors brought it with them over the ice mountains of Albania and the battlefields of Eastern front of Thessaoniki. Finally, the signs of Vidovdan were present on the battlefields of World War II, and during the days we defended ourselves from the NATO aggression in 1999” – said Minister Gašić.
During the speech, the Minister of Defense also reminded that Kruševac was the city of Prince Lazar, where many Serbian knights accompanied him towards Kosovo, meeting with eternity.
“From this day onwards, Lazar’s city is a city of a worthy and symbolically cultural event – an art exhbition dedicated to the Battle of Kosovo, organized by the Military Museum of Belgrade. It is my pleasure for having the opportunity to hold a speech here, as the Minister of Defense and as a person born in Kruševac. Military Museum is an art institution within the Ministry of Defense, a unique one in Serbia. It more than a century keeps and shows the testimonies of our rich and honorable military history. Standing before us is just a small fraction of the vault of history of the Military Museum of Belgrade, a fraction that relates to the Battle of Kosovo and its historical and cultural heritage. That which happened in Gazimestan in 1389 will stay in our people’s conscience forever. Let this event be another stone in the immortal monument of the Kosovo heroes”. With those words, Minister Gašić finished his speech and declared the art exhibition opened.
Representative of the Director of the Military Museum of Belgrade Lieutenant-Colonel Miroslav Sekuloski said the events like Vidovdan are a good occasion to put into light numerous historic people and episodes from the period between the 14th and 20th century, the ones that are important to the military history of Serbia.
“In front of you are museum items that remind us of the importance of Vidovdan in the Serbian history. You can see, firsthand, authentic specimens of the military equipment and weaponry from the late Middle Ages, used in the time of Battle of Marica River and the Battle of Kosovo, in the act of defending the Serbian land of Mrnjavčevićs, Lazarevićs, Kotromanićs, and Brankovićs from the Ottoman conquerors. The exhibition was organized thanks to the ongoing efforts of many generations who helped with gathering, safekeeping, and presenting the museum items” – stated the representative of the Military Museum.
The art exhibition “The Battle of Kosovo – Alive History of Serbia” consists of three thematic wholes that chronologically show the period of national history: from the fall of Serbian Empire after the death of Stefan Dušan to the reign of Crown-Prince Stefan Lazarevi’. The exhibition shows the events that caused the Battle of Kosovo to happen, the 1389 clash of two armies, as well as the aftermath and the consequences of the Battle. There are also authentic period pieces of military weaponry and armor used by the Serbian and Ottoman army, copies of Middle-Age frescos and stamps, in addition to the historical maps, and modern reconstructions of the appearance of the Serbian warriors from that period.
Beside the military representatives, the highest representatives of the City of Kruševac were present during the opening of the exhbition: Mayor of Kruševac Ivan Manojlović, President of the City Assembly of Kruševac Dr. Dragana Barišić, Deputy President of the City Assembly Siniša Maksimović, Deputy Mayor Snežana Radojković, members of the National Assembly of Serbia Nevena Đurić and Jasmina Palurović, Head of the Rasina Administrative County Ivan Anđelić, Head of the City Administration Vesna Anđelić, Mayor’s Aides Snežana Aleksić, Ana Prvanov, and Nevena Plavšić, Secretary of the City Assembly and her Deputy, Maja Cuckić and Ivana Antić, respectively. Present were also the Twin City delegations, directors of the city companies and institutions, as well as other representatives of the political and public life of the City.
