On the occasion of 111 years since the death of Dr. Elizabeth Ross who was a Scottish humanitarian and member of the British medical mission, and 150 years since the founding of the Red Cross in Kragujevac, a reception was organized at the City Hall, attended by H.E. Michelle Cameron, Ambassador of Canada to Serbia, H.E. Peter Truswell, Ambassador of Australia, Dominic Otway, Deputy Ambassador of the United Kingdom, Đorđe Todorov, State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Veteran and Social Affairs, representatives of the Serbian Armed Forces, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and healthcare institutions.
The sacrifice of Dr. Elizabeth Ross and the other members of the British medical mission is a symbol of friendship among nations, a friendship that was born in war but also endured in times of peace. That friendship between Serbia and the peoples of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia was built on the highest human values: humanity, solidarity, and mutual respect – said Dejan Ružić, Deputy Mayor of Kragujevac, welcoming the guests. He emphasized that our City proudly preserves the memory of those who, in the most difficult trials, demonstrated the unbreakable strength of humanity.
Today’s gathering shows how generous and consistent the City of Kragujevac is in nurturing the memory of these brave heroines – said Dominic Otway, Deputy Ambassador of the United Kingdom, emphasizing that such generosity, based on shared good examples of cooperation from the past, is a good foundation on which we should build the future in other areas as well, whether it be the Data Center or something else.
After the reception at the City Hall, at the monument to Dr. Elizabeth Ross and the members of the British medical mission at the Varoš Cemetery, His Eminence Metropolitan of Šumadija Jovan, together with the clergy of the Šumadija Diocese, served a memorial service, and wreaths were laid by delegations of the embassies and representatives of institutions and organizations.
Addressing the delegations at the monument to Dr. Elizabeth Ross, Jelena Pavić, Member of the City Council for Health and Social Protection, reminded that Dr. Elizabeth Ross paid for her humanitarian mission with the highest price; she lost her life fighting for the lives of others, here, in Kragujevac.
Her sacrifice is a symbol of selflessness and human solidarity, which is why the names of these brave women will remain forever inscribed in the history of our city – Ms. Pavić stated.
