President Irfaan Ali yesterday paid homage to the men and women who died in service to the Commonwealth during World Wars I and II.
According to the Office of the President, the Head of State was joined by Prime Minister Mark Phillips, other government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and members of the Guyana Veterans Legion (GVL) among others at the wreath-laying ceremony, which was held at the Georgetown Cenotaph (War Memorial).
In a brief address, Ali noted that the examples set by the veterans serve to strengthen the resolve for a world at peace with justice and freedom.
“We are forever indebted to them [the veterans] for their supreme sacrifice in the cause of peace and freedom. We also recall with gratitude those who, through the years, have made similar personal sacrifices in the continuing struggle for human dignity, social justice and freedom from all forms of oppression wherever these exist”, he said.
The Remembrance Day ceremony is held each year to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers from the two World Wars (1914-1918 and 1939-1945).
The release said that Guyana’s oldest World War II veteran is Benjamin Durant, who will celebrate his 102nd birthday in the coming week; there are currently nine surviving veterans.
