The Dashin Foundation congratulated veterans of World War II
Our memory is like a trail of our past experiences, forming the very foundation of our identity. The moments we cherish and the people we hold dear are forever alive in our hearts and minds. The capacity to retain past events, including thoughts, sensations, concepts, and their connections, is not innate but granted to individuals through memory. It serves the purpose of remembering our ancestors and their contributions to our existence, allowing us to honour and appreciate those thanks to whom we are alive.
Do people generally know about the prominent figures of their culture or the nation they reside in?
According to official figures from the UK Department of Defense, 20.000 Cypriots took part in hostilities during World War II; 14.500 Cypriot conscripts entered the Cypriot regiment “Cyprus Regiment”; the corps of volunteers “Volunteer Force Cyprus” totalled 4.980 people, while 778 Cypriot women went to the front not only as nurses, but some were in the ranks of the Air Force. The most famous was the combat pilot Stella Soulioti, who later became the Minister of Justice. About 2.5 thousand people were captured and imprisoned in 10 different concentration camps in other countries; over 600 Cypriot soldiers died; 358 dead are buried in 56 military cemeteries in 16 countries; 250 are considered missing.
Honouring our ancestors and acknowledging their contributions to our existence is essential, just like paying tribute to those who have paved the way for our lives to flourish.
Currently, there are only six surviving Cypriot veterans in Cyprus who bravely fought in the British army and two “children of the war”. Their memories hold a wealth of knowledge about the events they experienced and the heroic deeds they performed, which will be passed down to future generations.
As in previous years, the Andrey and Julia Dashin Foundation extended their heartfelt greetings to the Second World War veterans by providing seven air purifiers and financial aid for medicines, sweets, and flowers. Nonetheless, what holds significance for them is the act of being commemorated and respected.
We express our heartfelt gratitude to all our esteemed veterans for the peace we enjoy today. Your unwavering courage, bravery, strength, and fearlessness during those trying times are genuinely appreciated. Your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed, and we are forever indebted to you.