A la gente de España

Quisiera ampliar mis condolencias a la gente de España y a las
familias de los soldados perdidos en Afghanistán. Realizo que soy solamente uno americano y que no puedo hablar para el resto de mis paisanos. Pero, soy el padre de un soldado y espero que éste permita que diga que una pérdida en su familia sea una pérdida en el míos. El dios esté con las familias de esta gente joven.

Spain holds state funeral for 17 soldiers killed in Afghanistan
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-20 19:07

King Juan Carlos and other members of Spain's royal family led mourners at a state funeral Saturday for 17 Spanish soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, AP reported.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, members of his Cabinet and other high-ranking politicians attended the service at the Spanish army's headquarters in Madrid.

Queen Sofia hugged relatives of the dead soldiers. Some were so overcome by grief they had to leave parts of the ceremony.

A poignant moment came when the king assisted soldier Susana Perez Torres in laying a medal on the coffin of her husband, Sgt. Alfredo Francisco Joga.

Representatives of the United States, Britain, France and NATO were present. Spanish state television TVE1 read out condolences sent to the Spanish government by U.S. President George W. Bush.

The crash on Tuesday killed 17 Spanish troops, NATO's largest single loss of life in Afghanistan.