Marietta says that around 200 women fought in the war; 40 of them died. Today Marietta works with ‘Khachakir’ NGO, an organization dedicated to the issues affecting war veterans.

“We have many problems. One became disabled during the war; for others the financial aid from the government is not enough. We have a small fund that we finance through our participation in several programs and we also raise money ourselves. We use the fund to help each other. The war is over for those who didn’t take part in it, but it is still fresh in our memories since we help each other as we used to in the battlefield,” Marietta says.

She adds that for veterans gender is not important: they help everyone equally. “There is no such thing as a woman or a man in the battlefield. The same blood flows in everyone’s veins. Still there is one difference: women seek peace everywhere. When we returned to our barracks I would become the peace-maker. My presence would subdue the soldiers. They wouldn’t argue or fight or curse in my presence. I would feel that there was tension, so we would talk or joke until that tension passed,” Marietta recalls.

Marietta’s war uniform is now on display at the Sisian history museum. She notes that she was proud to donate it to the museum, and she visits the display when she feels nostalgic for her time with the unit. Marietta adds that she still has her military coat, the one she wore during her time fighting in the war, and she wears it - and her medals - every once in a while.