On the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov May 9 in Uzbekistan is announced as the Remembrance and Honors Day and marked as a nationwide holiday.

The man is alive with memory. It is our duty to remember those gone, their glorious deeds, courage and bravery of heroes, and to render them homage.

Honoring the memory of thousands of the Uzbek compatriots who fell on the battlefields of the World War II, showing respect and care towards the veterans, who returned from war, the selfless people, who bore on their shoulders all hardships of those tough days, who possess a firm will and convictions became a true national value in Uzbekistan.

The Decree of the nation’s President “On awarding participants and disabled of the war of 1941-1945 on the occasion of celebrating the 65th anniversary of Victory in the World War II” of March 24, 2010 serves as yet another vivid manifestation of honoring and showing respect to veterans of war.

In accordance with this Document, in all cities and districts, villages and makhallas (neighborhood community areas) the participants and disabled of war have solemnly been awarded the jubilee medals and money prizes.

May 9, 2010. Tashkent – the capital city of Uzbekistan. The Remembrance Square (Khotira Maydoni) is crowded with visitors in a special way. Here are the veterans of war and labor, members of government, lawmakers and senators, servicemen and representatives of public.

The calm melody is heard on the Square.

8.30 am. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov enters the Square.

The Head of State, accompanied by sounds of the military orchestra, laid a wreath to the Grieving Mother Monument.

President rendered homage to the memory of thousands of the Uzbek compatriots, who died in the World War II.

“Above all, I sincerely and from the bottom of my heart congratulate all participants of war, who stay today with us in sound health, the honored fathers and mothers, all our compatriots on this sacred holiday – the Remembrance and Honors Day,” said President Islam Karimov.

“It has now been for 12 years since we announced May 9 – the Victory Day to be the Remembrance and Honors Day,” President continued. “Now, we can speak with confidence: this date, which has received a quite symbolical name in our country, became a nationwide holiday and a kind tradition. The notions of remembrance and honoring meet our centuries-old national values, which we inherited from our ancestors,” President went on to say.

Remembering those gone and rendering them homage is our sacred tradition that lives in our blood.

“We bow our heads before the memory of people, who did not return from the battlefields, who have been famous for their courage and bravery and died in severe battles, - all those, who participated in that terrible war. Time and again we remember how that ruthless war damaged lives of millions and left numerous women as widows and countless children as orphans,” said Islam Karimov.

“When I speak about this,” President continued, “I would like to touch upon yet another important task – the attitude towards participants of war, esteemed veterans, which now renders a special meaning to our life.”

“One should not forget that nothing is eternal on this land. It is both the duty and honor of each of us, and above all, the government and bodies of power at the local levels, to care about veterans as they are still with us and create decent living conditions for them,” President added.

“Speaking about the contribution made by our people alongside with other peoples of the former USSR in the World War II, I deem it necessary to cite some figures. If on the eve of war about 6.5 million people lived in our country, then 1.5 million of them took an immediate part in the battles. That is to say, without taking into account babies and kids, elderly and women, more than 40 percent of our population participated in the war with arms in their hands. The war took lives of about 500 thousand our compatriots, i.e. 30 percent of all participants of war,” President Islam Karimov said.

“We all well understand that how many lives and losses the war cost to our people for the sake of liberating Homeland from fascism and fascist enslavement.”

“At the same time, I have to reiterate one notion,” President went to say, “I am convinced that our fathers gave their lives in tough battles not for liberating some nameless hill and hoisting a red banner on it, but, above all, for their kin – their father and mother, children, a beloved one, for their future and peaceful life.”

“Indeed, when person thinks about that as if he hears the voices of brave fighters, who shed blood and fell in ruthless battles addressed to us, who live now under a peaceful sky. It is necessary to take for granted their thoughts and aspirations addressed to us from a far past in which their wishes are heard: “Let our children be well, let our country and our people be eternal, who have never been and shall never be inferior to no one and in nothing,” the Uzbek Leader also said.

“When a man ponders about it, then he realizes that embodiment of these noble strives, realization of a creative potential of our country, people, contributing to a further prosperity of our beautiful and unique Homeland is a sacred duty of each and everyone alive now,” Islam Karimov underscored.

“Such a state and such a people are recognized and respected in the world, who possess the feeling of pride and dignity, believe in their capabilities and power, are able with their labor and intellectual potential to build future and protect themselves,” President further said.

“What conclusion can be drawn from this?” President asked a question.

“Above all, today’s complex and restless time, which we are living in, requires that the issues of consolidating power and potential, strengthening capabilities of our Armed Forces capable to withstand independence of Homeland, inviolability of our borders and peaceful life of our people must constantly remain in the focus of our attention,” President noted.

According to the Uzbek Leader, “in this respect it is important to preserve peace and tranquility, friendship and unity, mutual respect, inter-national accord which now reign in Uzbekistan and are the most valuable wealth, as well as consolidate kind relations and cooperation with near and far countries.”

“Yet another outstanding task is to secure by Uzbekistan a deserved place among developed states, build a free and democratic society, as well as channel to achieve these goals all available capacities and resources,” President believed.

“We must never forget that for the sake of achieving this goal, in particular, one of the priority tasks is to bring up the youth – our buttress and hope that symbolizes the future of our Homeland, having our children to master contemporary knowledge and become a decisive force of society’s development,” President Islam Karimov underscored.

“The holiday which we are marking today is a historical date which left an indelible trace in the life of each family in Uzbekistan and which has an immediate relation to each of us,” the Uzbek Leader added.

“And this day I consider it is my sacred duty to be together with our people, distinguished veterans, and time and again to congratulate them and entire people on this historical date,” President underscored.

“I wish all our fellow countrymen peace, a sound health, happiness and luck,” President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov concluded.

Pictured is the scene of President Islam Karimov laying a wreath to the Grieving Mother Monument in Tashkent on May 9, 2010. Photo: Courtesy Uzbekistan National News Agency

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