At an emotional ceremony, they surrendered the sword to an Argentine soldier who fought in the Falklands.

In December of last year, Colonel (D) Martín Jaureguiberry received an unexpected call that filled him with wonder and happiness: "We know who has your command saber delivered to Malvinas and the person in detention wants you back, "said Brigadier General VGM (R) Sergio Fernández, president of the Falklands War Veterans Association (AVEGUEMA).

"It was a cannon of joy", evokes Jaureguiberry (64), minutes after a simple symbolic ceremony at the residence of the British ambbadador to Argentina, Mark Kent has restored his military emblem after 37 years.

Alongside his family, fellow gunmen, veterans of the war, Ambbadador Kent and Defense Attaché at the British Embbady, ​​Robin Smith, Jaureguiberry said he recovered a treasure thanks to the good will of the "good people".

"We support any action that helps to repair the physical and emotional wounds of those who participated in the conflict. we believe that we must all privilege the humanitarian factor above all commercial motivationKent said at the ceremony.

A sword on a heap of arms

When he laid down his arms on June 14, the army lieutenant at the time had to undress his sword in a Bahia Fox warehouse where he had fought with the engineering battalion. 9. Military with the one he had inherited from his father, also military.

His children tracked the auction sites on the Internet in vain until this "miraculous call" revealed the path of his badge, whose steel edge indicated: "Second Lieutenant Ricardo Martín Jaureguiberry, December 16, 1972. May the laurels be eternal".

Commander of the HMS Avenger frigate, Sir Hugo White, who died in 2014 with the rank of Admiral, coordinated the withdrawal of Argentine troops from the Fox Bay minefields, while it was rare for the Argentinian army to arrive in the theater with these insignia. But during the landing, the order was to transport it, says Jaureguiberry, because the initial plan was not to go to war, but to recover the islands and to impose a negotiation through the diplomatic channel.

After the Argentine capitulation, White has recovered among the accoutrements and he offered it to his superior, the commander of the British forces, admiral Sandy Woodward. The sailor thanked the gesture but gave it to his subordinate for it to be ambaded.

"I do not think it was a war trophy, but rather a remembrance of war"said Infobae Jaureguiberry "This sword is now loaded with another meaning because it represents that goodwill, the gift of men and generosity can bring down the barriers," he adds, as he retraces the course of the weapon.

His sword held a prominent place in White's office in London. And after his death in 2014, his widow, Lady Josephine Mary Lorimer, initiated the steps to return it to its owner. He thought that it would have been the will of the sailor, decorated for his interpretation at Malvinas, then named governor in Gibraltar. The woman contacted the islands with Richard Cockwell, The former administrator of an establishment in Bahia Fox, who after learning that the blade of the sword was named Jaureguiberry, remembered having treated this officer.

From there, a series of chain of complicity to obtain restitution. Cockwell called the former reporter of the Buenos Aires Herald Nicolas Tozer who knew where to go: the AVEGUEMA Veterans Center.

"All this was possible thanks to the desire for collaboration of those who had a personal disinterest, intervened in one way or another, only enlightened by good intentions," said the army. , grateful. "Nothing is occasional when there are personal actions respect, honor, chivalry and professionalism. Today, I can badure you that having had a fluent communication with Richard (Cockwell) and Lady White I have two new friends unthinkable"

In the mail exchanges, the soldier thanked the gesture of altruism. Lady White replied that she only did "what needs to be done in these cases". He wanted Ambbadador Mark Kent to surrender his weapon. And in a moment of epistolary confession, she remembered her husband and even sent him pictures of the admiral who lived with his sword as a bulwark for 37 years.

"We are always trying to help those who were in the conflict. You must adopt an attitude of compbadion and honor that takes precedence over profit ", he later pointed out Infobae Ambbadador Kent. "Our wish is that this return serves as an example to others. It's just about making the right choice. "