Modest heroes, mothers and sons

Yerkir.am
April 06, 2007

On April 5 the Armenian Relief Society combined the celebration of the
Day of Motherhood and Beauty with the15th anniversary of liberation of
Shushi.

Soldiers and their mothers participated in this very solemn event. The
ARS paid tribute to the heroes that died in the liberation war and
their mothers who brought up dedicated sons. The hall of the Chamber
Music Hall was decorated with the Armenian flag brought from Shushi
and photos of the soldiers who participated in the battle of
liberation of Shushi. The event was titled ` Modest Heroes, Mothers
and Sons.’

Chairwoman of ARS Armenia, National Assembly Deputy Alvard Petrossian
welcomed the guests of the event. Petrossian believes liberation of
Shushi is connected with the day of motherhood.

`Shushi was liberated by the sons of mothers. This is why we have
invited today the modest heroes, Armenian women without whom no
victory would have been possible. Our soldiers realized that they
were liberating our homeland for their mothers. The photos on the
walls are a chronicle. We decided to combine celebration of motherhood
and beauty with the strength of the soldiers, because it is the idea
of motherhood that defines homeland.

As a women’s organization and a structure of the ARF, the Armenian
Relief Society stands on very firm foundation. Our celebration even
contains history and an emotional charge. The ARS has directly
participated in the war from the very beginning. Heroism is not about
making noise. For us, heroism is modesty. There are things are that
are more important than political struggle for us ` such as the
unitedness of the nation, moral values, the spirit of soldiers. This
is what helps us to survive.’

Representative of the ARF’s Bureau Hrant Margarian welcomed the
guests.

`Dear guests, Today we are celebrating the day of motherhood and
beauty. Today we are celebrating the day of our mothers, sisters, but
at the same time our fellow soldiers who shared with us the hardships
of the liberation war in Artsakh. Our friends from the Armenian Relief
Society, those who were with us in the difficult times of war, those
who took care of us and welcomed us back home have decided to
celebrate their holiday with you. They are responsible and strong
Armenian women. The very title of today’s event, `Modest Heroes,
Mothers and Sons’, carries a much greater symbolism of courage and
morality that are so necessary in our life, especially in our
public-political life.

Courage embodied by our liberation soldiers, the modest heroes of our
times that started the liberation struggle and led those who did not
believe in it to the victory. History will assess their
contribution. Dear soldiers, you were participants and leaders of one
of the greatest victories of the Armenian nation in the past ten
centuries.

As Ruben Ter-Minassian said, `The true hero is he who follows his goal
mixing life and death without realizing that he is a hero.’ Dedication
to the homeland and the people, and the struggle for ideals goes
beyond self interest. You were like that, you went to the war
silently, you fought and returned without any ambitions. You did not
get any medals, titles, businesses and privileges. You were and
remained our modest heroes.

To be honest, I am very cautious about using the word `hero’ even
though I know that you will never manipulate this word. Continue being
modest and always remember: those who are better than us now rest in
Yerablur ` Tatul, Peto, Artur, Vardan, Shahen, Aram, Ashot, Abo and
many others. Their memory obliges us to remain modest, responsible and
sober.

Our struggle continues. Establishing justice in the country is as
important as liberating the country. The mode of the struggle has
change but the substance remains the same ` full liberation of Armenia
and the Armenian nation from any economic, political or social
oppression. We need a proud, developed and creative nation. No one
has the right to oppress our nation. We should go for the upcoming
elections together with our work and courage.

But today is the holiday of motherhood and beauty. First of all, I
want to address the wives of our dead friends. We are obliged to give
them a free and developing country where their children can live a
safe and prosperous life. This is our main obligation towards you. I
am happy and proud that our women celebrate their holiday remembering
you, the soldiers.

Dear women, together we should create the country where women will
have the opportunity to fully participate in the public and political
life. We can achieve this through our joint efforts. Be active in the
upcoming elections. Justice must prevail in our country.

Dear women, dear members of the ARS, we love you because you are full
participants of the public life, we love you because you are beside
us, and you were beside us in the time of struggle. Stay strong,
pursue your rights and participate fully in the political
life. Congratulations on your holiday’.

General-lieutenant Artur Aghabekian made a statement. `An attempt is
made to set international standards as to what a soldier is, or what a
commander is. According to this definition, a soldier is someone who
implements the commander’s orders. Dear soldiers, you liberated
Artsakh, a part of your historical homeland, without becoming soldiers
` you remained workers, teachers and intellectuals. You took up arms
because your homeland called on you, and you fulfilled your duty
vis-a-vis you nation.’

By Naira POGHOSSIAN

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress