Thousands of the honorable relatives of martyrs, war-disabled veterans and Basijis of Semnan Province called on the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei on the second day of his tour of the province on Thursday, November 9.
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader stated that adherence and loyalty to the path and ideals of martyrs would ensure further national honor and dignity and power and progress for the Iranian people.
Ayatollah Khamenei described his meeting with the patient and honorable parents and wives and children of martyrs as one of the most enthusiastic meetings he had ever had. He noted that the marvelous patience and fortitude of the magnanimous relatives of martyrs in the face of the loss of their dear ones provides proof of what Qur'anic verses state concerning the way in which believers deal with difficult trials of life.
The Leader of the Islamic Republic referred to national honor and dignity, political independence, the continued existence of the ideals of the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian nation's resistance against the enemies and the country's increasing progress as among the results of the martyrs' valor and self-sacrifice. He stated that the presence on the arenas of hardship is one of the major criteria for judging nations.
"The will and determination of martyrs is still prevalent in the country, and our young faithful generation, like our former generations at the time of the revolution and the imposed war, is prepared to defend the country in the face of any threat and show that all the generations of the Iranian people have found the right path to honor and progress and prosperity, and that they would never renounce their noble ideals," the Leader told the audience.
In conclusion, Ayatollah Khamenei noted that Semnan Province was one of the foremost provinces during the Sacred Defense in terms of the number of its combatants and martyrs. He also praised the Basijis of Semnan Province, especially those in the Qa'em Brigade, for the services that they rendered and their devotion and self-sacrifice in the Sacred Defense era.