The memory of officer candidate Dimitar Dimitrov, who died in Karbala, was honored with a military ritual in Gorna Oryahovitsa : RegNews.NET

Comrades, relatives and many citizens gathered in Gorna Oryahovitsa to honor the memory of officer candidate Dimitar Dimitrov, who died exactly 20 years ago in Karbala.

The commemorative ceremony was organized by the Union of Reserve Officers “Atlantic” and the Initiative Committee of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, of which Dimitrov was a part, with the support of the Municipality of Gorna Oryahovitsa and Vasil Levski University of Applied Sciences.

The comrades-in-arms and relatives of the soldier first bowed at his grave, and then joined the ceremony with the participation of a representative part and the orchestra of the National University in front of the memorial plaque in the center of Gorna Oryahovitsa.

Dimitar Dimitrov is a member of the 2nd Infantry Battalion and part of the Second Bulgarian Contingent in Iraq, responsible for the security of the government complex “City Hall” and order in the province of Karbala. On April 23, 2004, Dimitrov was caught in a firefight and later died of his wounds. Just two days before his 26th birthday.

He was born on April 25 in Polski Trumbesh and is a graduate of the “Georgi Izmirliev” Sergeant’s Middle School in Gorna Oryahovitsa. He was also buried here, and 20 years later his memory was revived by all who remember him.

Mayor Nikolay Rashkov took part in the ceremony and shared everyone’s grief for a life that ended prematurely and in a heroic way. President Rumen Radev sent a letter of condolence and flowers, and wreaths were presented by the Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov, the Chief of Defense of the Republic of Bulgaria Admiral Emil Eftimov, General Deyan Deshkov – Commander of the Ground Forces, Brigadier General Ivan Malamov – Head of the Vasil Levski Military Academy “, Mayor Nikolay Rashkov. In the long line of mourners offering flowers in front of the memorial plaque were the chairman of the Armed Forces Ognyan Stoyanov, the commander of Dimitar Dimitrov o.z. Col. Petko Lilov, representatives of the “Atlantic” Officers’ Union, the Union of Reserve Officers and Sergeants in Gorna Oryahovitsa, Col. Tsvetan Tsvetkov, many comrades-in-arms of the fallen officer candidate and his relatives.

During the ritual, a posthumous award “For those injured in a military conflict, mission and operation” was presented to the relatives of Dimitar Dimitrov. In Gorna Oryahovitsa, the translator of the 2nd infantry battalion in Iraq, Ivan Dyulgerov, also received an award. He was awarded the sign “For those injured in a military conflict, mission and operation”, first option, for wounding. By the same order of the Minister of Defense, the commander of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, o.z. Col. Petko Lilov was awarded with the Medal of Honor of the Ministry of Defense “St. George” II degree. Major Ventsislav Vassilev – platoon commander of the 2nd infantry battalion was awarded the award “For excellent service” 1st degree.

After the ceremony, the film “Our Foreign War” directed by Rosen Elezov was shown in the Youth House – a documentary about the Bulgarian heroes of Karbala.