Thousands of veterans lay flowers in memory of comrades killed in Afghan war

Thousands of veterans laid flowers at the Memorial Complex “Holy Memory to the Country’s Sons” in memory of the friends and relatives who died in the war in Afghanistan. In 2012, it is 23 years of the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from that war, Info-Prim Neo reports. The veterans said they come to the memorial to lay flowers every year. They remember the difficult time spent at the front and the campaign cuisine. Igor Focsa, chairman of the Union of the Afghan War Veterans based in Soroca, said that this day is full of pain. “We lose friends in every war. Our brigade lost three soldiers. There was a lot of blood, especially when the enemies advanced on us. They pardoned no one and there was death everywhere,” said the veteran. Veteran Ion Costrov, former police major of the Ministry of the Interior, said he was only 18 when he was drafted and he fought for almost two years. “We lost 14 comrades. I come here every year to meet the soldiers who returned home. Today is a painful day. I think life would have been different if it hadn’t been war,” he stated. The February 15 meeting of the Government started with a moment of silence in memory of the heroes killed in the Afghan war. Attending the commemoration event at the memorial, Prime Minister Vlad Filat said the war in Afghanistan was unfair. More than 12,000 Moldovans took part in it against their will. Of them, over 200 were killed and four are still missing. “We must support the over 200 persons who returned from the war invalids,” he said. Acting President Marian Lupu said that the monument “Holy Memory to the Country’s Sons” will be included in the Register of Monuments of National Importance, at the request of the Chisinau Veterans Union. “The monument does not yet have an owner and guards. We will make sure that it is appropriately looked after,” he stated. “We, the servicemen, render homage to the soldiers who fulfilled their duty despite rain and wind and did not yield to their feelings,” said Minister of Defense Vitalie Marinuta. The war in Afghanistan started on December 25, 1979. The last troops were withdrawn between May 15, 1988 and February 15, 1989. Last year, February 15 was officially declared the Day of Commemoration of those Killed in the Afghan War.