Happy Independence Day to all who carry Bosnia and Herzegovina in their hearts!

Independence is not just a date on the calendar. It is a state of mind, a deliberate choice to uphold dignity and humanity against all odds. Today, we reflect on a pivotal decision made under siege — Bosnia and Herzegovina chose to exist, to endure. She defied occupation and oppression, even as the world watched in silence. As cities crumbled and people starved, she chose to live – to defy oblivion.

Independence is the refusal to disappear, the courage to remember when forgetting would have been easier. It is the defiance of a people who refused to be erased.

Our art outlasted wars, our music has defied silence, and our films have spoken truths. Our Sevdalinka, recognized by UNESCO, sings of sorrow and survival — a voice that will not be silenced.  Our bridges in Mostar and Višegrad, medieval tombstones, and the ancient beech forests of Prašuma Janj and Perućica are more than landmarks; they are echoes of a people who refused to disappear. Our identity endures — carved in wood, filmed through the lens, and sung from the soul. 

We honor those who defended the right to be Bosnian, who preserved a language, a name, and an identity. We remember the faces that vanished but left behind a legacy of resilience and courage. Today, we stand as proof that survival is the greatest form of defiance. We remember not to dwell on the past but to honor it. 

In a world where many still long for freedom, we carry the privilege and the weight of independence. Bosnia and Herzegovina endures — not merely as a nation, but as a symbol of an unyielding spirit that rebuilds even from shattered remnants. Freedom is not given. It is not inherited. It is fought for, claimed, and guarded — with courage, memory, and defiance.

To carry Bosnia and Herzegovina in your heart is to have the courage to remember and the defiance to endure.

WGBiH Board