(5 May 1996) Eng/Spanish/Nat
Salvadorans joined Americans Sunday in Washington to remember the soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in El Salvador's 12-year civil war.
In a solemn ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, soldiers who fought gathered with family and friends along with officials from both nations.
They came together to honour both U-S and Salvadoran citizens.
With flowers and song, many U-S and Salvadoran veterans gathered at the invitation of 'No Greater Love,' a U-S group that honours fallen Americans in foreign conflicts.
Salvadoran children and American soldiers together dedicated a memorial stone and tree to honour the dead.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The El Salvador of today - its people, its system of governance - is far better off today as a result of the heroics of those we honour this afternoon."
SUPER CAPTION: William Walker, Former U-S Ambassador to El Salvador
This is the first time American and Salvadoran soldiers gathered at America's national cemetery to remember those who fell in a controversial war.
El Salvador's civil war ended in 1992 at a cost of at least 70-thousand lives.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"Salvadorans are convinced that the price we have paid has been too high. There is not one family in El Salvador that has not been touched. We're determined to keep our peace at any cost."
SUPER CAPTION: H.E. Anna Christina Sol, Ambassador of El Salvador
For families it was vindication that those who died did not die in vain - they died for a cause that they believed was worth fighting for.
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