Public Notice
Union of Associations of Croatian Defenders treated with PTSD has issued a notice at the Union's Annual Meeting concerning the amendments of the Law on the Rights of the Croatian Defenders and Members of Their Families.
UACDT-PTSD Croatia supports each amendment of the Law on the Rights of the Croatian Defenders and Members of Their Families which will improve the status and life quality of the Croatian defenders.
Seeing as our society has not been able to find a solution to this delicate problem even after 15 years since the end of the Homeland war, the members of the Union consider it is high time to settle the issues of the defenders' in a justly manner once and for all.
The membership of the UACDT-PTSD is especially disappointed by the actions of the representatives of certain Croatian defender's associations that regard PTSD as a problem which merely benefits the one seeking defender status, whereas the same individuals have heavily exploited these possibilities using the Law concerning this disease to ensure the defender statuses for their own members.
UACDT-PTSD Croatia has been struggling to build a just society and protect the right and dignity of its members through its former activities and achievements. That is the purpose of the Union; this is what it strives to and will strive to achieve in the future.

The leading members of UACDT-PTSD CRO visiting the Ministry of Family, Veterans Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity
The leading members of UACDT-PTSD CRO along with the presidents of the district associations visited the Ministry of Family, Veterans Affairs, and Intergenerational Solidarity as part of their regular activities.
First they met with Minister Tomislav Ivić whom they congratulated on taking up his new duties, and gave him a short overview of the activities organised by their associations across Croatia's counties as well as with the work of UACDT-PTSD CRO on implementing the Union's programs planed for this year. Minister Ivić emphasized that the cooperation between his Ministry and UACDT-PTSD CRO has been very succesful over the past couple of years. He thanked for the support and help coming from the leadership and the members of the Union on solving problems of mutual interest. Minister Ivić also introduced a savings plan his Ministry has been developing. The leadership of UACDT-PTSD CRO took this opportunity to hand over the invitiation to the opening ceremony of the 6th annual sports meeting of Croatian defenders treated with PTSD which will be held beginning of October this year in Metković.

In the framework of recreational activities of the Zagreb County UACD PTSD first tournament in popular card name called “bela” was held. 28 teams of two participated in the competition. The tournament was held on August 1st, 2009 within the rooms belonging to the Local Committee of Turopoljski Markuševac. Sveta Nedjelja Club ended up as winners at the first place, while Velike Gorica Club took both second and third place. The event appealed to a large number of our members who joined the competition.

Voluntary blood donation
ACDT-PTSD of Split-Dalmatia County organised a voluntary blood donation on September 5th 2009 for the needs of the Split hospital. Donations were given at the training grounds „Patriot“ in Dabar. Among the donors were also local people of the area and not only Croatian veterans members of the Association. The number of donors was at an enviable level.

AIR-SOFT Games
The Union of Associations of Croatian Defenders treated with PTSD –Croatia has organized a recreational meeting for all of its members under the title „Air Soft Games“at a training ground in Dabar, Hvace County, especially designed for such activities. The underlying idea of „Air Ground Soft“is to simulate military techniques and tactics used in combat while carrying out basic military assignments. Participants tried to capture the enemy’s positions, bridges and strongholds while operating on an extremely demanding terrain covered with infrastructural objects. What seemed as an easy task turned out to require a somewhat better physical fitness, even though it was approached with a fire in the hearts of the participants and carried out in accordance to military rules in order to complete the assignments as fast as possible. Due to a slight lack of physical preparations “lives were being lost” pretty easily. This year’s recreational meeting of the Union was attended by 60 of its members from all over Croatia. The meeting was organized and carried out in cooperation with the Association of Croatian Defenders treated with PTSD from Sinj, Split-Dalmatia County. This form of recreation allowed the participants to relive and reapply the skills they learned in combat even now when the Croatian Homeland war has ended. There was no end to the enthusiasm and good vibrations resulting from the demonstrations of military skills and the fact that the fighting spirit remains alive in spite of PTSD. One part of the positive influence of Air Soft Games is the fact that such recreational activity helped the participants to find themselves. Another meeting is scheduled for the next year when we expect even more participants. See photos HERE.

The Standard Bearer Online
May 30, 2008

Spiritual Solutions for Combat Trauma

by Bob Dees
The reality of war is that everyone gets wounded. Some wounds heal rapidly, but some last for a lifetime. Some wounds can be seen. Some wounds are invisible inside the heart, soul, and spirit of the warrior. These unseen wounds are often the most difficult to heal – they must heal from the inside out.
See HERE

Games in Križ County
In the framework of sports and recreational activities a sports meeting of the Zagreb County UACD PTSD Club members was held in the Križ County in June 6th, 2009 (7 clubs, 4 members per club). Chess and table tennis competitions were also held as part of the event. The winner will proceed to the UACD PTSD and Coordination of the Associations from the War of Independence (Zagreb County) sports competition of the Republic of Croatia. An appropriate party was held after the competition where the members came together in a friendly atmosphere. The participants expressed special thanks to the Križ County Club headed by its president Mr Marijan Peharec on successful organization and conduction of the meeting.
See photos HERE.

Workshop exhibition, 6. june 2009.
One of the numerous activities of the Zagreb County UACD PTSD is implementing an occupational therapy. The workshop is being realized since the beginning if the year. For the first an exhibition of our members' works made within the workshop was also held in Sv. Nedjelja on June 6th, 2009. The exhibition consists of ceramics, clay works, glass engravings, and tiffany as well as stained glass techniques. This occupational therapy includes all interested members of the Zagreb County UACD PTSD, and the leader of the program is our PTSD Club SV. Nedjelja. Members of the Zagreb County UACD PTSD express their gratitude to all people of good will, all donators, and especially to the Mayer of Sv. Nedjelja Mr. Drago Prahin for his understanding and all kinds of assistance in the activity of the Union and the Club. This way the Union invites its members as well as members of their families to participate in ever larger number in the working of the Union and implementation of this particular program.
See photos HERE.

Bleiburg
Just like previous years, members of the UACD PTSD Croatia paid respects to the Croatian soldiers and civilians on the victims of Bleiburg and the victims of the Way of the Cross at Bleiburg. Besides participating in Holy Mass, the representatives of the Union laid flowers and lit candles at the monument to their fellow patriots, victims of the massacre. Unlike previous years this year was marked by a significant number of our members who came to commemorate this tragic site for all Croatians.
View photos in the GALLERY.

In March 2009, the representatives of the Union visited the diaspora in Argentina in the course of presenting the creation of the Croatian state and the Homeland war. During their stay in Argentina an exhibition of photographs created during the Homeland War was presented for our diaspora. During the time of the visit the representatives of Veterans' Affairs held a series of lectures on the creation of the Croatian state and the actions of the Croatian army. Cooperation with veteran's organization in Argentina was also established on this occasion and specific arrangements in the future were agreed upon. You can see the rest of the photographs in the GALLERY.

Pristina 2009.
ZUHBL PTSP RH representatives attended the 3rd Veterans of the Kosovo Assembly as guests upon the invitation of the veterans of Kosovo end of January 2009. During their stay in Pristina our representatives were received by the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia in Kosovo, Mr. Zlatko Kramarić.
Our representatives' visit was met with exceptional joy from the Kosovo veterans who were particularly interested in the way the war veterans' issues were being solved in Croatia. View photos in the GALLERY.


PTSD – Experiences of American War Veterans
In the past 15 days, during the stay of Mr John Blehm , author of the book „Angel of Death“ and Vietnam war veteran, UACDT-PTSD CRO held a number of meetings across Croatia in order to introduce the ways American veterans deal with this disorder. Mettings were held in Zagreb, V. Gorica, Bjelovar, Osijek, Varaždin, Križevci, Slatina, Oroslavje and Lepoglava prison. Mr Blehm described his experiences during the war, as well as his own way to admitting and facing the fact he had been affected by PTSD. Through his demonstrations he wanted to show our Homeland War veterans all the problems he had to overcome as well as understand just why and how he should live with this disorder. While delivering his speeches at the meetings, Mr Blehm gave out one thousand copies of his book „Angel of Death“ to the defenders. During his visit to Croatia, Mr Blehm also participated in the ceremony of remembrance of Vukovar 18th-20th November.
See photos HERE.

Representatives of the Union with Mr Blehm While Visiting Vice President Kosor
Representatives of our Union Mr Marijan Vuk and Mr Tihomir Trešćec along with Mr Blehm, American war veteran, visited Jadranka Kosor, Vice-president of the Government and Minister of Family, Veterans Affairs, and Intergenerational Solidarity, at the Government building. The cause of this occasion was Mr John Blehm's visit to Croatia. Mr Blehm is an American war veteran and author of the book „Angel of Death“. During the talk, he expressed his gratitude to the Vice-president of the Government Ms Kosor for writing the introductory speech to his book's first edition, while the representatives of the Union presented future plans for Union's activities to her. An organization of joint meetings for Croatian Homeland war veterans treated with PTSD has been agreed upon next time Mr Blehm visits Croatia.
See the rest of the photos HERE.

Seventy members of the Union of Associations of Croatian Defenders treated with PTSD –Croatia paid a visit to the sites of suffering in Vukovar on the 20th of November, 2008, on the occasion of remembering the casualties of the town Vukovar and honoring its defenders. They paid a special visit to Velepromet, the City cemetery, and Ovčara mass graves, where they laid wreaths and lighted candles. A visit to the historical site where the 12 policemen lost their lives on the bloody Easter followed afterwards, as well as laying a wreath at the memorial to commemorate them.

3rd Pilgrimage of UACDT-PTSD CRO to Međugorje
This year's 3rd pilgrimage of the Union of Croatian Homeland war veterans treated from PTSD was held from 24th to 26th October 2008. One hundred war veterans, members of the associations of the Union, took part in the pilgrimage.
After a short rest from the journey, the pilgrims devoted the Saturday of October 25th to visiting the Hill of the Holy Appearance, saying a prayer for all Croatian Homeland war veterans as well as their families. The time that was left before the departure they spent shopping for souvenirs. After the conclusion of the pilgrimage, the participants expressed their special gratitude for the entire organization to Mr Anto Batinović, president of the Association of Croatian Defenders Treated With PTSD of the region Dubrovačko-neretvanska.
See the pilgrimage photos HERE.

5th Sports Competition of Croatian Defenders Treated From PTSD
This year's 5th annual sports competiton of UACDT-PTSD CRO was held in early October in Oroslavje. After an adequate programme, Jadranka Kosor, Vice-president of the Government and Minister of War Veterans, declared the competition of Croatian Defenders Treated From PTSD open. In her adress of welcome to the war veterans and the people of Oroslavje present, Vice-president Kosor pointed out that Croatian defenders and their families are the primary and constant concern of the Ministry she is in charge of. After the opening ceremony, the head secretary of the Union, Mr Trešćec, handed over an honorary membership card of UACDT-PTSD to Vice-president Kosor, which has been unanimously agreed upon at the assembly held prior to this, in order to express gratitude for all the efforts of the minister Kosor in helping the Homeland war veterans treated from PTSD.

Just like previous years, this sports competition was held in 3 sports disciplines: rifle shooting, table tennis and chess
According to the results realized, the district teams were ranked according to the disciplines:

  • Rifle shooting: 1st place - ACDT-PTSD region Krapinska-zagorska, 2nd place - ACDT-PTSD region Vukovarsko-srijemska, 3rd place - shared by ACDT-PTSD region Bjelovarsko-bilogorska i region Koprivničko-križevačka.
  • Table tennis: 1st place – 2nd team ACDT-PTSD of the City of Zagreb, 2nd place - 1st team ACDT-PTSD of the City of Zagreb, 3rd place - ACDT-PTSD region Zagrebačka,
  • Chess: 1st place - ACDT-PTSD region Krapinsko-zagorska, 2nd place - ACDT-PTSD ˝Sv.Marko Križevčanin”, 3rd place - ACDT-PTSD of the City of Dubrovnik

The championship bowl for the best results of this year’s competition went to the ACDT-PTSD region Krapinsko-zagorska which hosted and helped organize the competition. After the official announcement of the results, spirit of entertainment continued with a party complimented by a music band.

See photos HERE.

The Annual Assembly of UACDT-PTSD CRO
The annual assembly was held in early October, 2008 in Oroslavje. This year's Assembly, along with all submitted and unanimously adopted reports of Union's activities, was marked by passing two major decisions. The first decision concerned the acceptance of the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Veterans' Affairs Ms Jadranka Kosor to the Union who will receive a card which is to be made for her as an honorary member. Another important decision of this year's Assembly was the reception of ACDT-PTSD Region Splitsko-Dalmatinska to the Union of Associations of Croatian Defenders Treated With PTSD. That is already the second regional association which it joined UACDT-PTSD CRO this year.
See photos HERE

A Visit to France
In September 2008 the representatives of UACDT-PTSD CRO in cooperation with other organizations formed as a result of war visited places where Croatian soldiers suffered and laid their lives in France. In the course of this visit, besides the traditional tour of historical places where Croatian soldiers fought and endured hardships in Villefranche de Rouergue, our representatives along with diplomats from Croatia in France visited the grave and laid a wreath commemorating the Croat Marko Slivarić, General of Napoleon's army. The stay in France was also used to visit the leadership of the World Veteran Federation in Paris, where they got informed about the latest activities that this international association and its leadership undertake to protect the rights of war veterans in the world.
See photos here

21st Meeting of Standing Committee on Issues of War Veterans in Europe
Meeting of the Standing Committee concerning the issues of war veterans was held in Lisbon (Portugal) from 06th - 11th April 2008. Over thirty associations that gather war veterans within the states of the European continent attended the meeting. Reports on the statuses and issues of war veterans within their domicile states were of special interest at the meeting. Each Association informed the Committee about the care provided to war veterans in their own country of origin. Our President submitted a report on the activities of UACD-PTSD Croatia and the range of assistance veterans treated with PTSD in our country receive, especially emphasizing parts of problems which need to be solved in the future. The complete report submitted can be read here in English version