Posted on 08/27/2017 6:39:34 PM PDT by Ravnagora
The Mihailovich Monument in Chetnik Memorial Park at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Libertyville, IL
on a beautiful Summer evening in Chicagoland. Photo by Aleksandra Rebic June 22, 2017
THE MIHAILOVICH MONUMENT: NO TAKING DOWN OF MONUMENTS TO LEGACY
With all the focus on monuments and statues in America recently forced upon us by people with a political agenda, none of us should be surprised that monuments dedicated to General Draza Mihailovich have become a target. It was inevitable.
We cannot be apathetic or take anything for granted. "Initiatives" to "remove" the General Mihailovich Monument at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Libertyville, IL and other locations such as New Gracanica Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Third Lake, IL and at St. Sava Cathedral in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and undoubtedly others, should be taken seriously by both Serbian patriots AND Americans, and any others among us who recognize and understand just how ironic these initiatives are, considering who General Mihailovich and his Chetniks really were and what they did for the Americans and Allies in World War II in the war AGAINST the Nazis and Fascists.
So much false history and outright lies have been institutionalized by the Yugoslav Communists and those who shared their agenda for the former Yugoslavia. Once false history and lies are institutionalized, it becomes a monumental battle to reverse the damage and break through to the light of Truth.
Fortunately, more material has been issued in the ENGLISH language, which is of critical importance, that testifies to the true nature and actions of General Draza Mihailovich, his Chetniks, and the Serbian people loyal to them. We have a long way to go, but we will get there. This is not "revisionist history" I'm talking about. This is correcting the historical record to reflect the Truth.
Following his execution by the Yugoslav Communists in Belgrade on July 17, 1946, his mortal remains have to this date never been found. These monuments to his legacy that have been erected here in the United States of America are one way of ensuring that the legacy of General Mihailovich will never die - that no group, person, initiative, or movement will prevail in destroying either that legacy or the monuments that represent it. They will continue to stand as a reminder of the great and noble things great men are capable of in the worst possible circumstances.
Learn from these monuments, these reminders and reflections of our history. Cherish them.
Sincerely,
Aleksandra Rebic
August 27, 2017
*****
Ping.
Is this statue over on Rte 21? I think I’ve seen it many times.
Yes, Virgil, it is on Rt. 21 in Libertyville. You can see the back of it from the highway as you pass the monastery.
Aren’t these monuments on private property? If so, they should be safe!!!!
That is private property, owned by the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the site of a monastery and a cemetery. It is sacred ground. Generations of Serbian Orthodox faithful are buried there. The last King of Yugoslavia used to be buried there, as was St. Nickolaj Velimirovich, before their remains were returned to the old country. The relics of newly-glorified St. Mardarije are in the chapel, just steps away from the monument to Mihailovich.
Who is behind the initiative to remove the monument? My father-in-law was a Chetnik and is buried at St. Sava. My wife has sometimes vaguely hinted to me of continuing enmity between those who were Chetniks and those who fought for Tito. My brother-in-law, while a seminarian, used to accompany priests to parishoners’ homes for house blessings, and he told of once going to a house that had a portrait of Tito along with the icons. Most of the real soldiers are probably gone now, so I hope whatever enmity there might have been isn’t being carried on by their families. But if the initiative is from non-Serbs sticking their noses where they don’t belong, they should probably think twice before messing with Serbs.
Hopefully, no one will bother the General’s statue. I’m not a student of Yugoslav history, but I have been there - Croatia, Bosnia-Hcgva on pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Beautiful land. I know it’s history is ancient. You feel the transition from Europe to Asia coming. The people there are not fooled about commies either. And when we asked our guide about what she thought about our late military adventure there, she said she thought it was Bill Clinton wagging the dog over Monica Lewinsky. Smart.
Okay, I checked and now I see who is behind it: Bosnians.
Armed guards are one way of protecting it. Words just won’t do against the criminally ill Left.
Of course.
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