Remembering the Flight: A Personal Reflection on August 5th, 1995

August 5th, 1995. It’s a date that’s forever etched in my memory, not just as a point on the calendar, but as a moment when life changed irreversibly. On that day, I lost my home, and along with it, a part of myself. I was one of the 250,000 Serbs who fled Croatia under the gun, leaving behind not just bricks and mortar, but a lifetime of memories, connections, and a sense of belonging.

The Day Everything Changed

I can still recall the confusion, the fear, and the overwhelming sense of uncertainty. The streets that were once familiar turned into pathways of escape. Friends, neighbours, and family members hurriedly packed their lives into suitcases, bags, and whatever they could carry. There was no time for goodbyes or for making sense of what was happening. We were running for our lives, driven by a fear that had been building for months, years, fuelled by the escalating conflict and the knowledge that we were no longer safe in the place we called home.

"Over 2,000 people were killed and missing, while more than 40,000 residential and commercial buildings, as well as 78 churches and over 900 monuments were demolished, burned and destroyed to the ground." Arnaud Gouillon, Director of the Office for Cooperation with the Diaspora and the Serbs in the Region

The Journey Into the Unknown

The journey was long, arduous, and filled with moments that tested the limits of human endurance. As we travelled for 10 days, the reality of our situation began to sink in. We were refugees, not by choice but by circumstance. The roads were crowded with people just like us—families, elderly, children—each with their own stories of loss and survival. The sense of community that had once been our strength was now scattered across miles of uncertainty.

A New Life in Exile

Starting over was not easy. We arrived in Belgrade, Serbia, with nothing but the clothes on our backs and the hope that we could rebuild our lives. It was a daunting task, filled with challenges that at times felt insurmountable. But we had no choice. We had to find work, adapt to a new culture, and somehow make sense of the trauma we had experienced.

Finding Strength in Adversity

Looking back now, I realize that despite the pain and loss, there was also resilience. We found strength in each other, in the shared experience of displacement and the determination to rebuild. The Serbian Krajina community that was scattered found ways to reconnect, to support each other, and to hold on to the traditions and values that had sustained us through generations.

Remembering and Moving Forward

August 5th is a day of remembrance, not just for me but for so many others who experienced the same loss. It’s a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of home, not just as a physical space but as a source of identity and belonging.

As we move forward, it’s essential to remember the lessons of that day. The importance of empathy, of understanding the struggles of those who are displaced, and of working towards a world where no one has to flee their home under the threat of violence.

For those of us who lived through it, August 5th will always be a day of reflection. It’s a day to remember what and who we lost, but also to acknowledge how far we’ve come and to hold on to the hope that we can build a future where no one has to experience the same pain.