The memory and contribution of those who served Portugal were the focus of the Gondomar Municipal Combatant's Day ceremony, held this Sunday, October 11th, at the Praceta Heróis do Ultramar in Fânzeres. The event, near the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, included the laying of a wreath, the performance of the National Anthem, and moments of tribute to those fallen in combat.
The Mayor of Gondomar, Luís Filipe Araújo, emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of combatants, especially in an international context of armed conflicts. "It is precisely in this uncertainty that the memory of our combatants gains greater urgency," he stated, also evoking the lasting impact of war on families, who suffer "silent mourning".
Araújo expressed gratitude: "To those who departed and did not return, our eternal respect. To those who returned, carrying the invisible scars of those who served Portugal, our deepest reverence." The ceremony included the awarding of the Commemorative Medal of Campaigns to three military personnel.
Lieutenant Colonel José Palhau, from the League of Combatants, praised the initiative, stating that "this ceremony shows that Gondomar knows how to honor those who served Portugal." Addressing those present, he concluded with a "thank you" to the combatants and their families.
The date of October 11th commemorates the first Gondomar combatant to fall, and the event aims to transmit the values of peace and respect for history to new generations. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the government, military, security forces, and local authorities.
