Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

Remembrance Day also known as Remembrance Sunday, the Sunday nearest to November Eleven, was first celebrated when a ceremony was held in Britain to remember people who were killed in the first and second world wars.

Other countries including Congo, Burma, the United States, Russia and Germany which lost their people in the first, second and other wars also celebrated their heroes.

In Nigeria, the Remembrance Day Celebration began after the Nigerian civil war which lasted for thirty months.

Hence, the fifteenth of January every year was set aside to celebrate Nigerian heroes who fought gallantly for the peace ond unity of the country.

The celebration usually involves Jumat and Inter­denominational church services as well as parade and the launch of the Remembrance Day Emblem.

Here in Rivers State, the Emblem Appeal Launching was held on Wednesday; 22nd December, 2010 while Jumat service took place on Friday, 7th of January, 2011 followed by Inter­denominational church service on Sunday, January 9, 2011 and wreath laying ceremony on Saturday, January 15, 2011 respectively which marks the end of the ceremony.

Although the Nigerian Government and people have been honouring both fallen and living heroes in the past forty years for defending the territorial integrity of their fatherland, the fact still remains that the honour being accorded them cannot be compared to the services they rendered.

In fact, the dependants of the departed ones and those living are mere shadows of themselves in terms of upkeep and welfare.

It is not in doubt that some wives of unknown soldiers across the country are so poverty-stricken that their children cannot receive even basic education. To be candid, most of them are only alive by the mercy of God.

In order to reverse this ugly situation, there is the urgent need for governments at all levels, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to take proactive measures that will actually give hope and succour to fallen and living heroes.

There should be an effective welfare package for them to take care of their wives and children.

The award of scholarships to children of fallen heroes to enable them pursue their educational career and automatic employment for their wives should not be considered too much.

After all, if the fallen heroes and those still alive did not fight for the peace and unity of Nigeria, some of us who are displaying affluence in society today would have been history.

Beyond the jumat and Inter-denomination church services being held in their honour every year; there should be a unit in the Ministry of Defence equipped financially to cater for the upkeep of dependants of the unknown soldiers.

It is also observed that those who have been retired are not having it easy as they are made to pass through a lot of hurdles to get their monthly pensions. This is not supposed to be so. These are men of honour and should be treated as such.

It is a total disservice on the part of government and Nigeria to treat those who fought to keep the country together with levity.

Just as Jesus Christ died to save mankind, our fallen heroes fought and died for us to live, and it is only natural and justifiable for the government and Nigerians to appreciate the sacrifice they made by rendering assistance to their dependants.

A situation where only senior members of the Armed Forces who die in combat are immortalised is not encouraging enough.

As we celebrate this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, let us reflect on the services they rendered to their fatherland and give them the honour they actually deserve.

There is no better way to appreciate them to do justice to those things that would edify their spirits for dying for their country.

Awoji is of the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation, Port Harcourt.

Umegbewe Joseph Awoji