A moment of silence in memory of those who were killed in the Nistru war was observed by veterans who came together in the Great National Assembly Square of Chisinau in the morning of March 2. They rendered homage to the heroes killed in battle and laid flowers at the monument to Ruler Stephan the Great and Holy, IPN reports.

Constantin Covrig, the head of the Association “People’s Force”, said that March 2 is a day of commemoration of those who didn’t return home from the battlefield. It is a day of gratitude for those who fought for the homeland and a day of solidary with veterans.

According to him, the vegans fought for the flag, anthem and independence. Later they had to fight poverty and the indifference of governments.

Constantin Covrig said that only this year the state undertook to provide the veterans with free health insurance, but many of their demands remained unsatisfied. The veterans continue to ask that the retirement age should be lowered, that they should be issued with free tickets to the sanatorium and that a ‘veterans’ law’ should be adopted by Parliament.

Deputy head of the Association “People’s Force” Andrei Eremia said that in time the veterans had been ignored and attempts are now being made to divide them by creating different bodies, by schemes so that they are no longer a strong force that would defend their rights and also the country, if need be.  

The Memory and Gratitude Day is celebrated on March 2.