The ceremony, held under the motto "Brave People", was attended by a large number of residents of Vukovar and Croatian patriots who had come from throughout the country. Also attending were President Ivo Josipovic, Parliament Speaker Luka Bebic, Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, government ministers, members of Parliament, church dignitaries, war veterans, representatives of political parties, and foreign diplomats accredited in Croatia.

An estimated 50,000 people then walked in a procession to the Homeland War Memorial Cemetery, located 5.5 kilometres outside the town, to light candles and lay wreaths in tribute to those killed or gone missing during the war. The procession was headed by members of the 204th Brigade which defended the town in 1991, and for the first time the flags of 144 wartime units were displayed.

"Every year we meet hear to remember the suffering of Vukovar. Vukovar is a symbol that motivates us to work harder and strive for the good of all our citizens," Josipovic said during the procession.

"It is important that we are here today to remember the brave people, which is the motto of this year's Vukovar Remembrance Day, so that their courage would make us strong and good in these times," Kosor said.

The battle of Vukovar began on August 25 and ended on November 18, 1991 with the occupation of the town by Serb forces. The town was defended by some 1,800 members of the National Guard Corps, police, and volunteers organised as the 204th Vukovar Brigade. According to figures provided by the Vukovar General Hospital, 1,624 people had been killed and over 2,500 wounded before the fall of the town. About 7,000 prisoners of war and civilians were taken to Serb-run concentration camps, and some 22,000 Croats and non-Serbs were expelled from the town; 306 residents of Vukovar are still listed as missing.