GUYANA Defence Force (GDF) Chief-of-Staff, Commodore Gary Best, yesterday said that the Army is committed to ensuring that all of its former soldiers and other ex-military personnel in this country are taken care of properly.

Mr. Johnny Douglas of the Guyana Ex Soldiers Benevolent Association lays a wreath at the Veteran’s Monument yesterday.

As an army, we will focus on preserving our history; on providing social services entertainment and education to our ex-military community, so that all who have served well are adequately provided for; so that no one who has served well would feel the need to regret having done so,” he pledged.

Best gave the assurance during a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the men and women who served in the armed forces of British Guiana and Guyana.

The ceremony was part of the ‘Day of Veterans’ programme coinciding with the ongoing 40th anniversary celebrations of the Army.

The function specifically honoured those who served in the military and para-military of British Guiana and Guyana, such as the British West India Regiment, the South Caribbean Forces, the West Indies Regiment, the British Guiana Militia, the British Guiana Volunteer Force, the GDF and the Guyana Peoples Militia (GPM).

Commodore Gary Best and Col (Ret’d) Carl Morgan confer during the ceremony yesterday.

The venue was the Veterans Monument at Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, and the programme comprised prayers, military music by the GDF band; addresses by the Chief-of-Staff and the President of Guyana Legion, Colonel (ret’d) Carl Morgan, as well the laying of wreaths at the base of the monument.

In the hour long mid-morning proceedings, wreaths were laid by Best, Morgan and Mr. John Douglas of Guyana Ex-Soldiers Benevolent Association and Colonel (eet’d) Cecil Martindale of Guyana Ex-Soldiers Association of Canada (GESAC).

Best said: “This is a day when we celebrate those who served us. Those who have guaranteed our territorial integrity. Some of whom have died while doing so and some of you have lived.

“Your contributions, in quelling the Rupununi Uprising and at Ankoko Island and New River Triangle have been most invaluable. Our country will always be grateful to you, brave men and women, who have served in the military forces of British Guiana and Guyana.”

The Commodore praised the efforts of other organisations which are committed to the welfare of ex-soldiers, including Guyana Legion and the Guyana Ex-Soldiers Association, both at home and abroad.

“The GDF salutes the efforts of these organisations and stands continuously ready to play its part in this collective endeavour,” he assured.

Morgan welcomed the commitment by the Chief-of-Staff and said; “As we remember those who have passed away, we must also remember those who have finished their active service and are still around. We must not abandon them.”

He disclosed that the veterans are planning to erect a ‘Wall of Remembrance’ to display all the cap badges and corps insignia, of the past military services of Guyana, next year.

“So we do not forget,” Morgan said.

Veterans Day, observed for the first time yesterday, will, from now see an annual observance on the second Friday of November each year, the organisers announced.