LEIDEN, May 9. /Dunyo IA/.  On the occasion of May 9^th - Day of Remembrance and Honor - Embassy of Uzbekistan to the Benelux countries organized a traditional commemorative ceremony at the “Soviet Field of Honor” memorial complex, located within the Rusthof Cemetery, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

It should be noted that every year, the Netherlands honors the memory of the victims of World War II, as well as those who perished in various military conflicts and peacekeeping operations. Commemorative events and ceremonies are held throughout the country.

The event was attended by representatives of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Belgium, the Mayor of Leiden, Gerolf Bouwmeester, the leadership of the “Soviet Field of Honor” Foundation, volunteers, representatives of local media, university and school students, as well as Uzbek compatriots residing in the Netherlands.

During the ceremony, flowers were laid at the graves of 865 Soviet soldiers who perished in the Netherlands during World War II and were buried within the memorial complex, including 101 servicemen from Uzbekistan.

In his speech, Remco Reiding, Chairman of the Board of the “Soviet Field of Honor” Foundation, noted that laying flowers at the graves of the numerous Uzbek soldiers buried in Leiden has become a noble tradition.

Uzbek compatriots attending the event emphasized that preserving the memory of their 101 fellow countrymen who gave their lives to defend the Motherland and for peace offering prayers in their honor, and expressing gratitude for their heroic deed is a sacred duty of the younger generation.

The participants of the ceremony expressed their sincere gratitude to the general public, especially to the leadership of the “Soviet Field of Honor” Foundation and personally to its chairman, Remco Reiding, for the care of the graves and for preserving the memory of the victims of one of the most tragic wars in human history, including the Uzbek soldiers, as well as for the efforts to establish their identities.

Following the ceremony, the importance of further cooperation in immortalizing the memory of fellow countrymen, as well as the regular holding of such cultural and commemorative events, was emphasized.