That is probably one of the most awe inspiring and saddest things I've seen in quite a while. They held the line, their vigil for 200 years without rest, with out supplies or reinforcements and no hope of survival. Only the hope of bringing their families a precious few moments more to live and escape, only the hope of bringing another enemy down before succumbing to the end.
Even in death they still served, never to know peace for 200 years so long as it brought the promise of their peoples future.
Truer Heroes than people like them you will never find.