True patriotism does not exclude an understanding of the patriotism of others.” (Queen Elizabeth II - quotes)

“True patriotism does not exclude an understanding of the patriotism of others.” (Queen Elizabeth II - quotes) Between the past and the present, the statement “of our memories” is perhaps the simplest way to explain the proliferation of gatherings and lunches throughout the country, especially with ex-combatants in the then overseas territories of Portugal, in Guinea, Angola and Mozambique, but someone also said that these “lunches have, above all, a therapeutic function”. There are those who say that we are always saying who we are, even when we say nothing. Or especially when we don't say anything! Friends also choose each other for moments, and these moments are our moments, because we feel like we belong together!! We were also young and it is in these moments that we “go back to our youth” and we are grateful to have the memory of those times and, perhaps, intimately, we can conclude that…it is the past! , but there we are moving forward. We are always moving forward so as not to become dull. Then, we leave until “next year”, sleep well and return to being almost intact. Almost, because for every friend (at the time we said friend) that we don't see again – there's always a list!, there's a tiny, invisible scar on our skin. Only we know where it is and that it stays there forever. (Dedicated to all ex-combatant comrades, who spent 2 years of our youth, July 1970 to August 1972, in Cabinda, and especially those who were able to be with us on September 23, 2023, on the outskirts of To take)