We greet each other, as if we will see each other again tomorrow

Senior pilot Dejan Krsnik was buried with military honors yesterday at the New Bežanija Cemetery in Belgrade, and his childhood friend, a neighbor he grew up with in Zagreb, said goodbye to him with shocking words.

“Some events, some meetings, some friendships, leave us speechless at some point in life. You just don’t know what to say when it happens, although you know what to say. But … sometimes it is better not to say anything, because that speaks a lot more than the hundreds of important words I would say in one breath. The words pass us like the wind anyway, while the silence remains even after all the words said. To continue the story …

These days I have lost a friend. A friend with whom I did not have any great friends, common plans, frequent encounters and everything that great friendships bring. Somehow, we didn’t hang out much, so as not to spoil our longstanding friendship. We come from similar military aviation families, we grew up together in Zagreb, “in the end!”, As some would say. And the whole world was a park between Lastovska and Gruška streets.

We played soccer together, made up nonsense, cuddled up with the kids from the area across the street, and grew up in peace. He was always the best and he played football so well that it was always more important for us to play for us than to win. He always saw everything in a positive light and his smile was a trademark. We started elementary school together in the area and little by little we mastered it like all the other children of that time. There were no splits, branded clothes, expensive summer vacations, and huge cars. We had a beautiful childhood together. Together we solicit the military schools, each with its own plans, wishes and hopes. We have been through all the hurdles that come with enrolling in a military school. I am worried and he is smiling. We took the same train from the old area, it dropped me off at Rajlovac, it continued to Mostar. Farewell to two guys from the end. We greet each other, as if we will see each other again tomorrow and his smile as the last photo.

We didn’t see each other for the next twenty years, during which we went through our education, our first successes and failures, our first loves, our first ranks, and our first jobs. Somehow the wars passed, we forgot about the old area to never return to our park. We were greeted by the first transfers, relocations, new families and children.

We met after about twenty long years. I saw it at the Batajnica airport booth. Again the same smile, open arms and a long silence in which we tell each other everything. Most people were unaware of our long relationship. It was our personal matter. Obligations and a new life didn’t leave us much time to socialize, but in all the years that followed, a minute or two was enough when we met in a flying restaurant, in the parking lot, at command, and to apologize with a glance and the question: “How are you?” ? “.

And there was always a smile, in support of everything we do.

A couple of years ago, in 2014 to be exact, I brought a group of photographers to their squad to spend a day with these guys. Guests in our best squad! It was a great workout and all eyes were on the other side. The parking lot is empty and only an old two-seater rolls slowly towards us. Forgotten by all and completely irrelevant for that exercise, media, generals and politicians.

The first booth opens and I recognize the friend from school and his smile. I proudly presented it to the guests, as if it were the most important for all of our aviation. The image created from that meeting marked our entire friendship. I still don’t know what to say. And that is enough. Here, I had to say that, after these few days of my personal silence. Last regards, friend. “

It should be remembered that pilot Dejan Krsnik and Captain First Class Zvonko Vasiljevic of the 101st Fighter and Aviation Squadron of the 204th Air Brigade of the Serbian Army Air Force died when a MiG-21 plane crashed in the area of ​​the Brasina village near Mali Zvornik. The tragedy occurred around 9.15am, and Krsnik and Vasiljevic took off from Batajnica airport to perform a regular flight task.

Serbian army investigators working to shed light on the “Mig 21” plane crash near Mali Zvornik will read data from the device to record flight parameters, but the context of the crash will only be known when the record is supplemented by other circumstances. : nature of the crew’s task, flight plan, radio communication, eyewitness statements.

In memory and honor of the fallen Air Force and Air Defense pilots and Major Dejan Krsnik and Captain of the 1st Class Zvonko Vasiljevic, a memorial meeting was held today at the Air Force House in Zemun.

(Kurir.rs)

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