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A Fare Well To Our Hero
Part II
Nharnet Representative
Early Picture of Seyoum
Dear
Readers,
Thank you
for joining us again. On Part One, we brought you the information up to
the point where the funeral ceremony was to be held. We informed you
that the Martyrs Circle where the Dutch Martyrs Statue is located was
the focal point for the viewing and church services. The viewing was
taking place on one side of the circle as you can see from the picture
below. The church /religious services commonly called “fithat” in
Tigrinia to take place was also on the other side of the circle. The
Eulogy and public speaking was planned to take place at the church.
Funeral attendees were to hold candle, pictures of our Martyr Hero,
Flags and different signs brought along with them on their own
initiatives were going to circle around the Martyrs Statue in turns.
Now, let’s go into the details of how it went.
Weather
and the Mood: We learned that it was snowing in Holland and
Rotterdam in particular starting the day before. Some locals were
saying that it had not snowed for a years that hard and saw it as a
blessing. Some Eritreans were adding humor that some one would have
blamed Seyoum for the snowy weather if he were alive, a reminder that
Seyoum used to be blamed for many things that he did not do and some
actions that he had nothing to do with him. Eritreans from all over
Europe were flooding into Vilaardingen using all sorts of transportation
modes. Some took the train from different countries of Europe. Some
drove up to 20 hours so that they can pay respect to their fellow
Eritrean Icon. Some flew to avoid the hassle of ground transportation.
Vilaardingen as a city and the Martyrs Square as a land mark became the
center of gravitation for Eritreans. It became a normal occurence to
see groups of different sizes asking for directions all over the
neighborhood. Residents of the city were standing by their windows
looking out surprised by the sheer number of Eritreans in the area.
Drivers definitely were distracted by the number of people on the
streets. Police were already on the Martyrs Square guiding the traffic
and the flow on foot. By 12:00 p.m., the city and the square was about
to witness a historic event of a historic figure that was denied the
right for a burial in his beloved country to which he devoted his whole
life. The country of Holland and the city of Vilaardingen were to play
surrogate mother country and mother city to our hero who was made a town
less and nation less wonderer by a cruel tyranny in his own father
land.
The church
waiting room was packed. Word came that weather conditions had delayed
some of the buses traveling from far like Frankfurt.
 
Viewing
started across the street from the church. Two big flags (The blue
original Eritrean Flag) were flying over the entrance to the viewing. I
could not help to think that sounds like where Seyoum would be. I
remembered the fond he had with that flag. I had heard him mentioning
in passing a couple of times that was the flag our heroes gave their
lives waving. He did not accept the change of the flag without any
voice from the people whose sons and daughters passed away waving it.
 
Many were
standing outside. They did not want to see Seyoum in a coffin. They
could not bear seeing the lively gallant fighter lying down still. Some
one whom I saw after so many years told me that he had not given up. He
was hoping for a miracle for Seyoum to wake up and give a speech. I
could not help it for my tears came down before I can respond to his
comments. At times, very rational people loose their rationality and
wish something that defies nature. Another friend told me that she did
not want to get into the viewing place because she rather remembers
Seyoum making speech, and cracking jokes alive. In my opinion, she did
not want to face the reality that our hero was leaving us for eternity
and we were not going to see him again not physically any way.
I went in
and saw him. I wanted to say good bye. It is unlike Seyoum not to see
or face any adversity head on. I had also to take the pictures that are
posted on Nharnet now and also had a solemn duty to record something for
history of an historic event of a historic friend.
He was calm
and seemed to be at peace as that is how nature has defined an eternal
departure to be. His family were looking at him and weeping. Every one
in the room was weeping. Every one outside the funeral home was
weeping. I did not salute any one whose tears were not flooding down
their cheeks. So were mine. I chose to just wave to some friends as I
knew that I would be emotional if I got close to give them a hug. Death
and funerals are sad occasions by their own nature; but the sadness and
emotion I witnessed are of different proportions. I could not help it
at that time to think that it is only human nature that all of us will
die but to be loved this much, to be missed by that many people and to
have touched that big segment of the population is rather like iving for
eternity.
 
Every where
around the square, people were crying, holding pictures, flags and
memorabilia that they brought along. The blue ribbon every one was
wearing definitely was selected by some one who knows the good taste of
Seyoum. People were also carrying candle like burning items around the
circle. It was symbol of keeping the dream of f our hero alive.
 
It was then
time for the body to come out of the funeral home and carried to the
front of the statue. The square was totally blocked of the traffic at
this point. People started crying aloud. The family’s deep pain was
visible and loud. He was brought out from the funeral home and rested
in front of the statue. The coffin covered partially by the flag and
partially by flower. Groups of 50 started circling on the square road
around the statue and the body. The crowd has grown in size and many
buses were on their way. The crowd on foot needed police directions
too. Cars were being parked every where around the circle. The buses
were being taken far by the police themselves to be brought back after
the church service is over. One can not help it to notice on the faces
of the attendees circling in groups of 50. A deep sorrow by every one
equally. Every one was stating “we lost a hero”. It was evident that
Seyoum belonged to our nation and people. Every one was in agreement
that Eritrea lost some one whom she will have needed tomorrow. Some
were bitter that Seyoum and other national heroes are being buried
outside their beloved country.
It was then
time to carry the hero’s body to the church. The church was wide and
had seats on two levels. At first, the space seemed to be spacious
enough. The setting, the flower arrangement, and the pictorial display
of hero were brilliant. The delayed buses arrived and family members
and attendees were on their way into the church.
 
The rest of
the church service and words by his comrades will be presented on part
III.
Thank You
for Reading
Glory To
Our Fallen Heroes!!!!!!
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