The Alcoutim Council paid tribute to the alcoutenejos who fought in the Colonial War, through the inauguration of a monument dedicated to them, in the Praça da República of this border town, on Saturday, June 10th, Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities.
The inaugurated monument is "composed of black stone, symbolizing war, the unknown, danger and the African continent, the abrupt tear of the black stone gives rise to the white stone, symbolizing purity, love and the desire for freedom", according to the Chamber of Alcoutim.
In it "are engraved the names of the 12 soldiers who fell in the campaign, as well as three faces of soldiers representing the three branches of the Armed Forces." "Inscribed in the stone is also the map of the African continent and southern Europe, which highlights the countries where the war took place – Angola, Mozambique and Guinea, and the location of Portugal", added the municipality.
For the Alcoutim Chamber, with the inauguration of this work « it pays a fair tribute to those who served the Motherland at a certain time in our history and who, in an altruistic and also naive way, participated in a war that left very strong marks on themselves, in the families, in Portugal and in other countries».
From now on, and every year, a wreath of flowers will be placed in this memorial, to remember all the inhabitants of the county who fought in this war, on Combatants' Day.
The mayor of Alcoutim Osvaldo Gonçalves explained that the municipality wanted, with the inauguration of the monument, «to recognize the effort, sacrifice and dedication of all those who, in a particularly difficult period of our history, gave their sweat, blood and tears in the name of the Motherland'.
Victor Guerreiro de Brito, the architect responsible for the work, explained that he wanted to « demonstrate the ingenuity of the men who left for a distant land, sometimes not knowing where they were going ».
The ceremony had more than 300 subscribers, including members of the League of Combatants, the Algarve Fuzileiros Association, and the Armed Forces Association for the Disabled.
The initiative was organized by the municipality of Alcoutim in collaboration with the Honor Commission and in collaboration with the League of Combatants – Núcleo de VRSA.
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