For the representatives of the Embassies of Great Britain, Canada and Scotland, Miroslav Petrašinović, member of the Provisional Authority of the City of Kragujevac, and Dr. Gordana Damnjanović, member of the Commission of the Provisional Authority, arranged a reception to commemorate the 109th anniversary of Dr. Elizabeth Ross' death. The reception was attended by Mr. Lav Pajkić, State Secretary in the Serbian Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs, the representatives of the Serbian Ministry of Defense, the Serbian Army, higher education institutions, health and social welfare institutions, and the Red Cross, as well as by the members of the family of Dr. Žarko Vuković, the author of the book "Allied Medical Missions in Serbia 1915".
Mr. Miroslav Petrašinović, member of the Provisional Authority, greeted the guests reminding them of the importance of commemorating the anniversary of Dr. Elizabeth Ross' death, but also of the importance of the humanitarian mission that was embedded in the collective memory of our people. As they wanted to save the lives of Serbian soldiers and people, members of the mission had lost their lives, and because of their act of humanity, they were woven into the hearts of the people of Kragujevac and the citizens of Serbia, pointed out Petrašinović. He reminded that the street in Kragujevac was named after Dr. Elizabeth Ross, as well as the field unit of the City Committee of the Red Cross.
We want this memory to last forever and from Kragujevac we continue to share the values nurtured and the sacrifices made by Dr. Elizabeth Ross and nurses Mabel Dearmer and Lorna Ferris.
Mr. Petrašinović thanked the guests for sharing their memories with us every year, emphasizing today's partnership relations, based on the alliance between the then Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Great Britain.
State Secretary Lav Pajkić reminded that, in the First World War, Serbia and the Serbian army had faced the typhus epidemic, the more powerful and ruthless enemy than the Austro-Hungarian army, which is why Serbia had sought the help of its allies.
More than thirty thousand soldiers and between one hundred and two hundred thousand civilians lost their battle with typhus, and among them was Dr. Elizabeth Ross, who fought for each and every life until the last moment. That is why we owe her eternal gratitude, said State Secretary Pajkić and expressed his honor and satisfaction for attending the commemoration of the important date for the City of Kragujevac and Serbia on behalf of the Ministry and the Government.
With gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Serbia, the ministries, the City of Kragujevac and the Red Cross for preserving the memory of Dr. Elizabeth Ross and the members of the British mission, Mr. Dominic Otway, Deputy Ambassador of Great Britain in Belgrade pointed out that Dr. Ross represented the unique and highest symbol of humanity for the British people.
Dr. Ross set an example of how we can help each other when help is needed. The highest act of commitment to a profession is to give and lay down one's life for it, said Otway, and emphasized that in the future the relations between the two countries would continue to be built on such examples of friendship.
After the reception, His Eminence the Bishop of Šumadija Mr. Jovan with the clergy of the eparchy served a memorial service at the City cemetery, and the delegations of embassies and the representatives of institutions laid wreaths next to the monuments to Dr. Elizabeth Ross and the members of the British medical mission, Mabel Dearmer and Lorna Ferris.
