ZAGREB, Croatia - Minnesota National Guard service members joined a multinational military parade in Zagreb, Croatia, to mark the 30th anniversary of Operation Storm and to commemorate Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day, as well as the Day of Croatian Defenders.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jack Engle, a crew chief with the Minnesota National Guard’s Duluth-based 148th Fighter Wing, called the experience unforgettable.
“It was surreal to hear the crowd chanting for the different countries,” Engle said. “The amount of support for us in the U.S. was kind of a surprise because there was just so much appreciation.”
The July 31 parade featured more than 3,500 personnel, 500 military vehicles, 40 aircraft and numerous drones from allied nations.
Held every 10 years, the event attracts international participation and showcases partnerships across Europe and the U.S.
Minnesota and Croatia have shared just under three decades of partnership through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, or SPP. The program pairs individual U.S. states with foreign allies, building lasting relationships through training and cultural exchanges. Minnesota and Croatia began their partnership in July 1996.
U.S. Army Sgt. Jackson Berry, a fire support specialist assigned to the Anoka, Minnesota-based Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion of the 125th Field Artillery Regiment, said the event demonstrated strong multinational cohesion.
"We have a great group of individuals from our [NATO] allied nations that have a great opportunity to integrate in a positive way," Berry said.
The Croatian Army launched Operation Storm in August 1995 during its war for independence. The anniversary remains deeply meaningful for the Croatian people.
Throughout the years, U.S. Army Capt. Carla Christenson, the SPP coordinator for the Minnesota National Guard and Croatia, has coordinated numerous events with various focuses, but this parade is particularly meaningful.
“This was one of the most successful missions I have led, and I truly believe it embodies what the State Partnership Program is all about - building relationships, enhancing interoperability and working side-by-side as partners at a global level,” Christenson said.