Washington: Ambassador Đurić at the commemoration of the anniversary of the Operation Halyard

Speaking as a guest of honour, Ambassador Đurić recalled the establishment of diplomatic relations between Serbia and USA over 140 years ago, highlighting the historical alliance of our two nations during both World Wars.

He spoke about the special role that the Serbian military and Serbian people played in World War Two, and stressed that freedom-loving principles and values for which our ancestors fought next to their American allies were the same values and principles that are still connecting the military forces of our two countries, and singled out the cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ohio National Guard as its brightest example.

Ambassador Đurić emphasised that, two years ago, at an initiative of President Aleksandar Vučić, a Memorial Complex dedicated to the Operation Halyard had been built and ceremonially opened in the village of Pranjani, and that last year’s commemoration of the anniversary of this military operation was included in the State Programme for Commemorating the Anniversaries of Historic Events of Serbia last year.

“I am proud that our nations, our institutions and our governments are honouring the brave people who deserve it, and continue to tell the stories that deserve to be told”, added Đurić.

In a separate conversation between Ambassador Đurić and the management of the Museum, it was agreed that, from the following year, an exhibition dedicated to the Operation Halyard would be a part of the permanent exhibition in the US Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, which is located next to the largest US military base, Fort Liberty.

In addition to Ambassador Đurić, speakers at this event were President of the Halyard Mission Foundation John Cappello, the joint forces special operations historian Bob Seals, and Major Steven Smith, a descendant of one of the US pilots rescued during this military action.

Operation “Air Bridge”, also known in US military circles as “Operation Halyard”, was the biggest operation of rescuing Allied pilots in World War Two. This operation was carried out in the territory of Serbia from May 1944 to February 1945, by members of the US Air Force, the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland and inhabitants of the village of Pranjani. It is considered one of the most successful rescue missions carried out behind enemy lines in the history of warfare.