City of Biloxi honors Croatian-American Veterans at ceremony

BILOXI, Miss. (WXXV)- Community members gathered at the Croatian-American Cultural Center in Biloxi for a special event honoring Croatian-American veterans.

Posters were displayed across the room detailing the lives and duty of past Croatian-American veterans and the wars they fought in.

A ribbon cutting also took place, highlighting the new lodge seal which now sits just outside the building.

In attendance at Thursday night’s event was the Croatian ambassador, who stood alongside local and state leaders such as Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Biloxi Mayor FoFo Gilich, who says it is important to remember those who fought for independence.  “It’s some of the reasons why we enjoy, we’re able to kind of look at the future and plan on what a great country this is. A number of occasions, a lot of sacrifices by mothers and grandmothers of these folks that we are trying to celebrate here, but it is important. Freedom is not free.”

The event was also a celebration of 35 years of Croatian independence.