President Armen Sarkissian Moved While Awarding Soldiers and Their Parents

Today, Armenia celebrates Army Day. President Armen Sarkissian awarded medals to 33 soldiers, but three of the medals were received by their parents instead, reports Sputnik Armenia.

“Aram Jagaryan’s mother accepted the medal with tears in her eyes, struggling to hold back her emotions. ‘We thank you,’ the president said softly, and both their faces were transformed. Both were on the verge of tears on stage. The situation was salvaged by applause. The woman turned to leave, but the president wouldn’t let her go. He gently embraced the hero’s mother for a photo,” the media outlet writes.

In order to hand over the medal to Haik Karamyan's father, the president also got off the stage and helped him ascend the steps. Shaking with emotion and pride, the gray-haired man smiled gently. The president embraced him.

Mother of Mher Hovsepyan also climbed onto the stage with tearful eyes. She looked sadly at the soldier of the honor guard and quietly whispered something. It may have been a congratulation. In any case, the soldier noticeably smiled. The president accompanied her as well.

Later, Armen Sarkissian told a Sputnik Armenia correspondent that he spoke to them as a man who deeply empathizes with their loss.

“And I remembered how, before the ceremony, when a group of soldiers entered the hall, the boys were asking each other, ‘Where are our positions?’

It was clear that these boys did not know how to give up their positions,” the media reported.