Remembering a National Hero Through his Memorial Complex

 

Wars throughout history have been fought through different motives. Kosovo’s war, in particular UCK’s war, was fought for the protection of Kosovo’s territory and its inhabitants. Adem Jashari’s Memorial Complex is a place located in Prekaz, Kosovo and it is the most monumental place from the UCK’s war. In this complex are located the houses of the Jasharaj’s family, graveyard, and a museum. This complex explains best the glorious war of UCK and Jasharaj’s family sacrifice, where 59 people were executed from Serbian Police Forces in the dates of 5, 6 and 7 march 1998. Visiting this place will remain forever in my memory, as it reminded me who we as Albanians really are and what are we capable off.

All the names and pictures of the 59 people who were executed during 5, 6 and 7 march 1998

In this journey, firstly, I visited the Adem Jashari Musem which is located in the entry of the complex. In this museum there were many different things that have been collected from the war that occurred in this place, including guns, field working tools, Adem Jashari’s own motorcycle etc. I felt amazed how the things have been collected and sustained to this day. I also felt amazed by how the brother of Adem Jashari, Hamza, had made his own gun to fight against the enemy.

Adem Jashari’s own motorcycle

Hamza Jashari’s (Adem Jashari’s brother) own handmade gun which he used against Serbian Forces

After visiting the museum, I visited the graveyard where everyone of the victims lie. There were 59 graves which I took a look at them one by one.
When visiting the graves I felt sadness in my heart, but the sadness was nothing compared to the proudness I felt. Proudness about how our country had this many people that didn’t fear death and would do anything for its country to get its freedom. Besides the graves that I found very memorable, are the soldiers that were honoring the graves in the warm rays of the sun. I asked and found out that soldiers stay by these graves everyday in any weather condition. This shows, again, how memorable and historical this place is.

Soldiers honoring the graveyard where 59 relatives of Jasharaj’s family lie.

 

And lastly I visited the place where everything about this history was built on. I visited the house where the Jasharaj family lived in and other buildings that they used for their everyday life. The houses where they were living in when attacked.
These houses, these buildings, were covered in so many holes, which came from different artilleries, that for someone maybe it is impossible to think. I found it very painful, imagining how they were attacked from every angle possible.

The main house where the Jasharaj family lived, simultaneously where they were attacked, with the Albanian flag waving above the house. A photo of the Legendary Commander Adem Jashari with a banner above him saying “He is alive”, meaning he still lives in every Albanians memory to this day.

In conclusion, this trip was a trip that I will forever remember. This trip also shows how important these projects are, and how you can experience and learn new things.
This trip showed me how important our country should be for everyone of us, when these people gave their most valuable thing, their life. The Jasharaj Memorial Complex is a place where anyone could visit and learn more about the history of Kosovo’s war, especially the glorious battle of the Jasharaj family.