‘Hell of combat’ - Malvinas veterans remember fallen in first national pilgrimage
Key Takeaways
- Malvinas War veterans held their first national pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Lujan.
- Former combatants recalled turning to their faith during the most difficult moments of the war.
- Veterans plan to seek Pope Leo XIV's support for a chapel at Darwin cemetery.
Former Argentine combatants gathered at the Basilica of Our Lady of Lujan to remember those killed in the 1982 war and reflect on the role faith played during the conflict.
Argentine veterans of the Malvinas War have gathered for their first national pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Lujan, combining remembrance of fallen combatants with calls over Argentina's sovereignty claim to the islands.
Former combatants were joined by relatives and members of the community on Sunday as they made their way to Plaza Belgrano, where the main ceremony took place outside the basilica.
The gathering later moved inside the church for a Mass.
Veterans Recall ‘Hell of Combat’
For some of those who fought in the 1982 war, the pilgrimage brought back memories of how they turned to their faith during the fighting.
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Veteran Juan Carlos Ortiz recalled praying during some of the most difficult moments of the conflict.
"Seeing the Virgin who was with us, accompanying us, that image on our Malvinas Islands, made me remember the moment when we lived through the hardest time, when the worst broke out, the hell of combat, and in that moment one remembered the Virgin, spoke with the Virgin," recounted veteran Juan Carlos Ortiz.
Hector Nazaralet said the gathering also provided an opportunity for surviving veterans to express gratitude.
"We remembered the Virgin in the hardest, most difficult moments of the war. But sometimes we forget to give thanks, and it is only right to thank this Virgin who protected us," he said.
Veterans Seek Chapel at Darwin Cemetery
Nazaralet said veterans are also seeking permission for a chapel to be constructed at the Darwin cemetery on the Malvinas Islands.
He said they intend to present the request to Pope Leo XIV.
The pilgrimage was organised by the Municipality of Lujan, the Federation of War Veterans of the Province of Buenos Aires, the Confederation of Malvinas Combatants, the Lujan War Veterans Centre and the Shrine of Our Lady of Lujan.
According to official figures from Argentina's Ministry of Defence, 23,813 Argentine combatants participated in the war that began on April 2, 1982.
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The conflict resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine combatants and 255 British personnel.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
