On This Day

By Gereslase Welenkiel

May 24, 2006

 

It happened and it was real. Finally, people’s dream came true. Shedding blood on soil has made history. Some called it miraculous. Some called it God’s order. Some called it EPLF’s obstinacy. Some called it the Eritrean rigidity.  I called it all of the above. It pumps me up with pride for having taken a tiny bite  in the historic super adventure.  On this day, I remember my past - in my own country with my own people. How could I forget?

 

What a day?  May 24, 1991. The news broke out. A man wept in tears out of joy. It was tears for  cheers.  The more he tried to hold it back the more it kept coming. It burnt hot. He did not know what to say. Breathless. He did not even belong, by membership or the otherwise, with the victorious Front. However, differences in vision have never kept him indifferent from lending a big heart to a desperate nation that needed help. It was he, the author, of this article.

 

It was May 24, 1991. Boom! The thirty-years long and  arduous struggle has finally materialized. She came to life. She was the newly liberated nation of Eritrea. For her, I celebrate.  For her, I salute. For her, this is my love. For her defense, never kneel down. For her, a Happy, Happy, and Happy 15^th birthday a million times!

 

On this day, I remember the martyred father of our nation, Hamid Idris Awate, the first leader of the liberation army. How could I forget him?

 

On this day, I remember my old happy days, and the old bad days as well. On this day, I remember my fallen and living veteran comrades. On this day, I must remember all the martyrs from all the Fronts.

 

 As Christ did win over humanity’s death by death, our martyrs have won Eritrea’s death by death to resurrection. The sum of all their sacrifices is what this day is all about.  Glory to you, O our martyrs. How could I forget them?

 

On this day, I even remember the camels, the donkeys, the mules, the horses the goats, the sheep, the cows and the antelopes from which the Fronts have made their living. Without them, how hard it could have been? How could I forget them?

 

On this day, I remember the Shida, the Kufuf, the Abu’Ashera, the AK, the Semenov and the many others with which Eritrea’s life was made to come back.  How could I forget?

 

On this day, I remember all of our mothers from the Kunama, Nara, Beni’Amir, Maria, Bilien, Mensa’E, Hadendewa, Rashaida, Afar, SaHo, Asawrta, Jeberti and the Habesha. Without their generous food offerings such as: the Tokoshem, Bojboj, Ge’At, KiTcha, Tchayta, Milk, Swa, and water, who would be able to walk for a day? They made it. How could I forget?

 

On this day, I am here to proudly remember the peasants, the workers, the students, the shepherds and their hospitality. Without them, it cannot have been done. This day, it must be in honor of their perseverance. How could I forget them?

 

I must even remember the challenges from the animals: such as the hyenas, the snakes and the anacondas, Aselet, if you will. These animals too, they tried and tried with snags but they were unable to change the course. How could I forget them?

 

On this day, I passionately remember the heroism of the heroes who have crushed the massive 6^th offensive by the army of the enemy to a severe defeat and humiliation. Without that decisive victory, who knows what could have happened. How could I forget them?

 

On this day, I proudly remember the victory gained over the enemy’s strong Nadow front. How could I forget?

 

On this day, I remember our fallen martyrs of the border war. How could I forget? 

 

On this day in grief and sorrow, I remember the many massacres. On this day in rage, I remember the crimes committed by the occupier’s air force bombers. On this day with a broken heart, I remember the burning flames of our villages, cities and forests. On this day in vain, I remember dismembered bodies soaked in blood. On this day in sadness, I remember the ugliness of Eritreans killing Eritreans -fraternal wars. How could I forget?

 

On this day in dismay, I remember the crimes committed by the evils of hatred that said they could identify us by the colors of our eyes. How could I forget?

 

On this day with horrible feeling, I remember the day of the air raid on our city of Asmara, not by the Selassie, not by  the Hailemariam, but by Mr Zenawi’s reign.  How could I forget?

 

 On this day in wrath, I remember the destruction of our cotton factory in Ali Ghidir, other factories and bridges. On this day, I remember the EthioTigrai fascism over innocent Eritreans that  looted their wealth and deported them barefooted.  It was their way to teach us a lesson. Truly, we have learned the lesson. Our time is ahead.  How could I forget?

 

On this day, I remember all the places of Gash-Setit, of Barka, of Sahel, of Senihit, of Semhar, of Dankalia, of Kebesa and the scam about Badme. How could I forget?

 

In totality, I remember the bad, the ugly, the worst and the good as well. And with a unique emotional response, I remember my father to whom I denied my visit before his departure to  the other world when I was in a duty of action.

 

And also on this day,  I remember my brothers, my sisters my uncles, aunts and cousins of whom one was my mentor master that have perished for the sake of the oppressed people of Eritrea. May our Lord receive their souls in heaven! 

 

All of these, It was for Eritrea.  I must end here, again, with cheers and tears.

 

Happy 15^th Independence Day Eritrea! Glory to our martyrs!

 

God Bless Our Country

 Email to: medrek@charter.net