Rememberance Day

Quoting American General, Douglas MacArthur, who said “Old Soldiers never die, they just fade away…”, Sir Julius said: “My friend, your role in bringing the country’s Independence dream to reality, remains etched in the hearts and minds of all Papua New Guineans. Your name will live on.”

In honouring the life and times of Sir Michael, Sir J urged all Papua New Guineans to emulate the same dedication Sir Michael and all other founding fathers had for Papua New Guinea.

They say, you just got to ‘Receive God's healing from painful memories’, this was told in unison by Correctional Service members of the Beon jail in Madang yesterday.

Every year, just as on ANZAC and Remembrance Day, CS officers nationwide also commemorate their comrades who served during the civil crisis on Bougainville. Each province hosts according to their marked dates, for Madang’s Beon CS, it falls on January 17th. 

May 17 is a gazetted public holiday for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The date was originally the date that the late revolutionary leader Francis Ona declared a Unilateral Declaration of Independence for Bougainville.

It has since become Bougainville’s Remembrance Day.

In Arawa Town, Central Bougainville, former commanders of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army gathered to remember and pay tribute to their fallen comrades and those that lost their lives during the 10-year civil war on Bougainville.

This was the theme for the 36^th Remembrance Day and commemorative memorial service.

The memorial service was held at the Remembrance Park at Ela beach this morning.

With this being his first official duty in the Remembrance Day parade, Keynote speaker, Governor General, His Excellency, Sir Bob Dadae said this day marks a milestone in his capacity as Governor General.

"I am privileged and honored to commemorate today as a Papua New Guinean to remember those who have sacrificed for our freedom in the war."

Public servants took the day off to do their personal things while members of the public went about with their normal chores.

Many observers said the special day might have been overshadowed by the aftermath of the 15th Pacific Games.

However, the teachers and children from the little known Miok Primary School in Wapenamanda, Enga, decided to take the day off to celebrate in the nearest Lai River either doing laundry or swimming.

Teacher Anton Ambare said they opted to make their way to the river as there  were no special events being organized for them.