By ABAH SUNDAY, Abuja
In the build up to the peak of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day of 15th January, Beracah Economic Empowerment Foundation, BEEF, a staunch advocate of veterans and their families, on Thursday brought children from various schools in and beyond the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory,FCT, as part of the celebration and to educate the young ones on the need to honour the sacrifices of the country’s fallen heroes.
Speaking at an event hosted by Beracah in conjunction with the Nigerian Legion at the Legion House in Abuja, the executive director of the foundation, Mrs Maria Emmanuel, a widow of a fallen hero, explained that the foundation, among other humanitarian activities, engages in creating awareness for and mobilising support for our veterans and the families of fallen heroes.
According to her, the programme which is the first its kind and will continue every year going forward brought the children to the Nigerian Legion House to
honour the veterans in view of the upcoming Armed forces Remembrance Day.
“This initiative aims to teach young minds about sacrifice, duty, and the importance of cherishing our fallen Heroes and Veterans.
“As we gather here today, it is essential to reflect on the tremendous sacrifices made by our brave soldiers, both past and present. Our fallen Heroes have selflessly given their lives to protect our nation, ensuring the safety and security of every citizen.
“They have fought valiantly in times of crises, defended our freedom, and secured our future. It is through their unwavering dedication and courage that we stand tall as a nation today.
“Hence, it is vital for our children to acknowledge and understand the sacrifices made by these remarkable individuals.
“By educating our youth on the true meaning of Armed forces Armed forces Remembrance Day, we can instill gratitude, respect, and a deep sense of national pride within their hearts. We have a responsibility to pass on a legacy of our fallen heroes to future generations, ensuring that their memory lives on,” Mrs Emmanuel noted.
She said visiting the Legion House provides the children with the opportunity to witness firsthand the magnificent edifice which stands a symbol of honour and respect for the veterans and to appreciate “the valour, strength, and contribution of the servicemen and women, both past and present.
“We hope that this experience will leave an indelible mark on their young minds, impressing upon them the significance of sacrifice and dedication to our nation.”
“But our mission does not end there. Beracah firmly believes in mobilising support for the families of fallen heroes and our Veterans,” she said, calling on individuals, corporate bodies, governments, and other stakeholders to join hands in supporting the their, the veterans’ families, even it is by imbibing the habit of buying the Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem every year as, according to her, part of the proceeds are used to provide palliatives to families left behind.
According to her, the emblem is meant to be worn by citizens from October until 15th January which is the peak of the memorial, but unfortunately not many people know or care about it, a development she said calls for concerted effort at creating much more awareness.
Zainab Umar, one of the students from Emmanuel Learning Spring High School, Mararaba in Karu local government area of Nasarawa State, who spoke to AljazirahNigeria expressed gratitude to the organisers, saying she had learnt to respect military men and women and the veterans greatly given the sacrifice they make to protect the country and her citizens.
She urged that all hands be on deck in upholding their, the veterans’, legacy by supporting their families.