Community

Mayor of Croatian town of Milna visits to extend Sister City agreement

Outside the Civic Center on Monday, the flag of Croatia rippled in the wind along with the flags of Washington state and the United States.

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While that might be appropriate on any day in a town with deep Croatian roots, it was there Monday to honor a visiting dignitary: Frane Lozić, the mayor of the town of Milna, Croatia.

Mayor Frane Lozić of Milna and Mayor Mary Barber of Gig Harbor sign documents extending the two communities’ sister city agreement on Monday, Oct. 12, at the Civic Center. Photo by Vince Dice

Lozić visited to sign documents continuing the Sister City arrangement between his hometown and Gig Harbor. The two seaside communities have been Sister Cities since 2022. 

Milna is on the western shore of the Adriatic Sea island of Brać. Many of Gig Harbor’s pioneering Croatian families trace their heritage to Brać, which is about the size of Washington’s Whidbey Island. 

“I’m so happy to stay here, to sign this document, between community (of) Milna and community (of) Gig Harbor,” Lozić said during the brief signing ceremony alongside his local counterpart, Mary Barber. 

Lozic presented Barber with an art piece made from the white limestone for which Brać is known. It displays the logo of Gig Harbor on one side and the logo of Milna on the other. 

This art piece, a gift from Milna Mayor Frane Lozic, displays the Croatian city’s logo on one side and the logo of Gig Harbor on the other. Photo by Vince Dice

Milna is one of two communities with which Gig Harbor maintains a Sister City relationship. The other is Bodo, Norway.