Saint Lucia remembers its peace fighters
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Contact: Julita Peter
Thursday, November 13, 2008 –Sunday November 9th, marked Remembrance Day observance here, not only for the few surviving veterans but for all citizens. Remembrance Day was observed with the usual parade and wreathe laying at the war memorials at the Derek Walcott Square and George the 5th Park.
Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy, Prime Minister Honourable Stephenson King, Leader of the Opposition Honourable Dr. Kenny Anthony and representatives of the Diplomatic Core were among several who participated in the solemn occasion, designed to honour those who fought for the freedom that citizens now enjoy.
Following the parade, members of the St. Lucia Branch of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Service League gathered at the Prime Minister’s official residence for their annual reunion.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister King said the Saint Lucian community owes a debt of gratitude to the veterans, whose experience he said must be shared with the youth.
“Let not the traditional few minutes of silence prevent your voices from resounding with notes for ideals of peace, harmony, justice, equality, and freedom. Go into our schools, go out into the communities and make them aware that the cost of freedom was high. Teach them the values of individual dignity, courtesy, personal discipline, proper conduct and tolerance of all human beings,” the Prime Minister said.
Patron of the Saint Lucia Branch of the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Service League, Dame Pearlette Louisy, who also addressed the gathering, commended the League for its efforts to chronicle the history of World Wars One and Two, in its recently launched publication, ‘Unsung War Heroes of St. Lucia’. The book is now available at local book stands.
“If this particular book falls in the hands of young people, they will look and see the young faces-some of them as young as 19 and 20 years. They will look and realize it was young people who answered the call and made that sacrifice,” Dame Pearlette said, further urging young people in particular to obtain copies of the publication. The proceeds from the sale of ‘Unsung War Heroes of St. Lucia’ will go towards education and assisting surviving veterans. |
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