"Fact" daily writes:
"He was a very calm and smart, indescribable and unique child. When I went to the parents' meeting, the teachers said that Hovik and his brother are so different. He is two years younger than Hovik. Hovik was quiet, his brother was a bit naughty.
He was very smart, he had to think hard and light before taking every step. He was so mature that it seemed to me that there was an older man next to me," said Mrs. Hermine, Hovik's mother, in a conversation with "Past".
Hovik was born in Gagarin village of Sevan community. Childhood, adolescence, school years, everything is connected with Gagarin.
After graduating from the village school, he continued his studies at the Sevan State College, majoring in Programming. Hovik did not have any favorite subjects at school as such, but technical means were within the scope of his interest.
"He dealt with telephone programs, repaired technical equipment, TV, telephone. Computers and technology were his element," says his mother. He was six months away from graduating college when Hovik was called up for mandatory military service.
"He was told that he can postpone his departure for service, finish his studies, and then go to the army. But Hoviks didn't want to." The boy's dreams and desires were related to getting a higher education. "He used to say: "Darling mom, I will graduate from college, I will enter university in Yerevan, we will all move to the city. I will study in the remote department, I will also work, we will be together in the city."
But the war did not allow the boys' dreams to come true." 2019 On December 16, Hovik was conscripted into compulsory military service. He served in the anti-aircraft military unit of Mughni. During his service, he was awarded certificates of appreciation and badges.
Six months later, he moved to Hadrut in Artsakh. "He served in Zinavan village. Unfortunately, we did not see where he served, how. It was the period of the coronavirus.
We could not go to him. I was able to see him several times while serving in Mughni."
The mother says her son never complained about the service. "When he called and we asked him how he was, he always said the same thing: everything is very good, they treat us very well. He was just upset that he couldn't go on vacation, it was the pandemic period, vacations were forbidden." In 2020, the 44-day war began.
Mrs. Hermine notes that they were able to talk with her son every day. "There were children who did not call home for days, but in our case there was not a day when we did not talk to Hovikis.
We had less than twenty contacts with him until October 21 at eleven in the morning, at which time he talked to his father. He always said the same thing: everything is fine, everything is normal.
The brother asked, "Dear Hovik, what are you doing?" He said, "It's okay, dear Hayko, we're having a good time." It wasn't long before we realized what he meant. We asked him, "What should we send for you?" He replied, "Nothing, dear, it doesn't matter, send it, we can't take it."
The mother says that the incident happened on October 21 between two and half past two.
So often we hear this wording from parents: "the incident happened", most of them never utter the word "killed". It seems that by uttering that word, they will lose something important again. "As we were told, the incident happened in Drakhtik village of Hadrut.
The boys were moving out of the area. We still don't know what happened and how. We haven't been told anything." Hadrut, Mount Ara and other hotspots.
Hovik and his comrades-in-arms move from one point to another during the war. Mrs. Hermine even remembers that one day, when she asked where they were, her son replied, "Darling, we don't know either." Hovik was immortalized on October 21 in the Drakhtik village of Hadrut, which he and his friends undertook to protect. He "returned" home ninety days after his death, in January 2021.
His identity was confirmed through DNA testing. Then the stories will prove that Hovik saved some of his wounded friends, helped them get out of the siege.
Twice he got into a blockade and got out successfully. There must have been more stories. About the power to live. "Hoviks was the captain of the house. He had two brothers, Hayk and Vachagan, when he was drafted into the army. After his death, my little son, little Hovik, was born.
I have four boys. It is they who keep us alive, the fact that Hovikis's name comes from my lips every day. These are very difficult days, words cannot describe it, but thanks to the children, we find the strength to live and support our family.
Little by little I try to participate in various school activities with my little boy. What is wrong with our other boys that we deprive them of something? We have to grit our teeth and live for them."
H. G. - Hovik Veranyan was posthumously awarded the "Combat Service" medal. Buried in the Gagarin cemetery.
Lusine Arakelyan
