Prince-successor Philip Karađorđević visited the village of Baničina near Smederevska Palanka with his family, where the 101st anniversary of the erection of the memorial fountain to the fallen warriors of the First World War was marked.
The ceremony was held in the presence of locals, descendants of the warriors, and numerous guests, and Prince Philip stated that Baničina represents one of the symbols of Serbian suffering, but also of unwavering honor and loyalty to the fatherland.
“In 1925, my great-grandfather, H.M. King Alexander I, attended the ceremony and paid tribute to his fallen comrades. Today, after more than a century, I feel a special duty and honor to have come to Baničina to pay respect to their sacrifice,” said Prince Philip.
He reminded that Baničina was known in the past for its “firm faith and unbreakable libertarian spirit,” but also for its loyalty to the King and Serbia.
The great hero of the First Serbian Uprising, Stanoje Stamatović Glavaš, is buried in front of the village church, and the residents of this region throughout history have, as he pointed out, made enormous sacrifices for freedom.
“It remains remembered that in a single day, under Shkodër in 1913, 27 unmarried young men from this village perished. This region suffered greatly in every era, but it was never treacherous,” the Prince-successor stated.
Philip Karađorđević emphasized that he came to Baničina with his wife and children so that even the youngest could feel the spirit of unity and respect for their ancestors.
“My children played in the churchyard with the youngsters of these proud people of Šumadija. Their smiles and clamor, while we are gathered around the heritage of our ancestors, give birth to hope that a better time is coming for those who for too long paid the highest price for freedom,” he said.
At the end of the visit, Prince Philip thanked the hosts for their hospitality and stated that his family and he felt in Baničina “as their own among their own.”
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Source: Kurir, Photo: Kancelarija princa Filipa