Spain Honors 17 Soldiers in Afghan Crash

Spain Holds State Funeral for 17 Soldiers Killed in Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan

MADRID, Spain Aug 20, 2005 — Queen Sofia hugged the relatives of 17 Spanish soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan during a state funeral Saturday led by King Juan Carlos, but some of the relatives were so overcome with grief they left early.
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.
"When life is offered for big ideals, when it is based on solid human and Christian principles, all its energy is at the service of the common good," Archbishop Francisco Perez Gonzalez said....