Photos: Catholicos and President Armen Sarkissian Meet with a Group of Young Disabled Veterans

Today, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, President Armen Sarkissian and His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, met with a group of young disabled veterans. The young people are primarily those who have been injured in recent years, yet they have managed to overcome difficulties and establish themselves as professionals in various fields.

“Without hesitation, I say that each of you is a hero. Heroes are not just those who bear the title of hero, but they are heroes according to their lived life, their spirit, and the heroic victories they have provided us,” President Sarkissian emphasized. “You are all soldiers of a victorious army. With the contribution from each of you, we can say that we indeed have one of the strongest armies in our region. An army is also strong in spirit. When the army was being formed, your fathers and grandfathers stood to protect the homeland and Artsakh and achieved victory. The spirit of that victory is directly passed on to the next generation; it has been transferred directly to you through the guidance you have received from your parents and the strong spirit and will you have inherited from your fathers, grandfathers, mothers, and grandmothers. You have given your life and health to your homeland; you have fought for life and won, passed through difficulties, and kept faith in life within you. Your life has meaning.”

The President emphasized the importance of each soldier finding their place in life after returning. “It is very important that each of you returns to life and finds your place in this life, in society, living a dignified life. I hope that the returning soldier, regardless of their condition upon return, will fully integrate into society and will be able to return to a normal life,” President Sarkissian underlined. “I again call upon all state and non-state organizations to do everything possible to accept those heroes who wish to contribute to the work in their large working family.”

He noted that there are young people within the Presidential Administration who have heroically fought, have physical difficulties but are fully able to contribute to the activities of the administration. “It is time for you to return to a full life. You have been heroes on the battlefield, and I am confident that each of you will also be a hero in the workplace,” the President stated. “You are our pride, our guardians and protectors, but today you are also our partners. Each of you still has a lot to do for the homeland; your greatest successes are ahead.”

After the meeting, a patriarchal blessing was offered at the St. Vardan and St. John the Baptist chapel under the leadership of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, for the peace and stability of the homeland. Subsequently, the President and the Catholicos had lunch with the young veterans, congratulated them on the upcoming holidays, and conveyed their best wishes.