The monument, located on Avenida Pe. Júlio Cândido da Costa in Vila de Punhe, was inaugurated this Sunday, with the presence of the President of the Viana do Castelo Municipal Chamber, Luís Nobre, the President of the Vila de Punhe Parish Council, Bruno Guimarães, the local Festival Committee, residents, and parish priest Domingos Meira.
Luís Nobre praised the initiative, considering it an opportunity to "remember the citizens of the parish, the region, and the country who went to fulfill a mission." The mayor emphasized that "over a hundred years ago, they were called up, and even today, we feel the consequences of war," warning about current threats and the need for reflection on the values for the world.
Bruno Guimarães, in turn, described the inauguration as a "moment of memory, respect, and gratitude for those who served our homeland." Orlando Novo, representative of the League of Combatants, highlighted that the monument honors "those who went to the front lines, to fight for what they believed was the homeland," valuing "symbols of memory so that the combatants are never forgotten."
The work, by artist Cláudio Alves, seeks to give form to memory through a silhouette cut into granite, symbolizing the combatant's presence and absence. The boots and helmet convey a silent presence, representing all those who left, returned, or remained forever.
