DEFENCE Headquarters at Camp Ayanganna, Thomas Lands in Georgetown, was the venue yesterday where the men and women who served in the military forces of British Guiana and Guyana were remembered at the Veterans Monument.

The Veterans Day ceremony saw a memorial wreath-laying occasion with reveille sounding and inter–faith prayers offered by representatives of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian religions for those who had served in  World Wars I and II.
Wreaths were laid by, among others, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Colonel Bruce Lovell; President of the Guyana Legion, Retired Colonel Carl Morgan; Mr. Bert J. Douglas J.P and Retired WomanWarrant Officer Class II, Mrs. Maggie Arthur. Prayers were read by Behan Leila Mahabal for the Hindus, Brother Mansoor Baksh for the Muslims and Brother Best for the Christians.
Lovell, in his address said:”Today, we gather to, once again, honour every man and woman who had worn the uniform of the British Guiana Volunteer Force and the Guyana Defence Force and who had served our nation with courage and commitment to guarantee our nation’s territorial integrity.
“We know that honouring our veterans is more than the words we say on this day; we know it’s not enough to just say thanks for all the sacrifices you made; we know that the contributions you made to this nation did not end when you took off your uniforms.”
He noted that ”as a nation, we still have an obligation to you, as a force we also have an obligation to you and I am reminded of a quote by a former U.S. President: ‘A nation that does not remember its heroes will itself be soon forgotten.’”
He acknowledged that the GDF has a responsibility “to ensure your contributions to this nation are not forgotten and also the responsibility to ensure we leverage continued support and commitment not only from the government but also the nation as a whole to making you live comfortable lives after your service.”
Hospices
Lovell said the GDF has started to provide for the veterans in the completion and activation of the veterans’ hospices in Lamaha Springs and that the veterans have established an office to cater for the needs and administration, cutting through the hassles of a bureaucracy as he urged them to make full use of it.
He lamented knowing that it is not enough but pledged that the work in progress has to continue championing causes to ensure the provision of better social services, entertainment and education of the ex-military community, looking to provide the needs for veterans.
“Ours must be the task of ensuring all who have served are adequately provided for so that no one who has served would have any regrets for having done so. As we muster today for many of you veterans, it provides an opportunity to go down memory lane as you have a chance to remember the good times and not-so -good times, the hardships, the laughs, the anxieties, the sense of achievement after a six-mile run or a 30-mile walk. The training experiences, the border stays or the day-to-day work experiences.
“For us who serve this day provides us an opportunity to remember your sacrifices and patriotism, to acknowledge the lessons you have taught us… lessons of integrity and duty, to realise that we are living your legacy.
“For us to serve today signals a time to develop a deeper understanding of the vital contributions veterans made and continue to make in the development of Guyana”.
Transition
He concluded:”We do this because we understand that one day all of us who are serving will step out of our uniforms and will sit where you are sitting. We will transition to civilian lives again and will grow old. Hopefully, another generation of servicemen and women will gather here to honour us.
“To the organisations which are committed to the welfare of ex-soldiers, we salute your efforts and stand ever ready to play our part in this collective endeavour. Let us work together to keep that link established between the past, the present and future.”
Legion President Morgan, in his remarks, thanked the GDF and its members, officers and Acting Chief of Staff for honouring the veterans on the day.
He said, in other countries, there is a holiday and the name of the day is changed to represent the veterans.
Morgan mentioned the Army’s continued support and asked that the rebuilding of the Military Museum be done soon, with its great memories of veterans.
Lamenting the experiences of soldiers in those days, he observed that annual leave was a bad word for them as he wished the GDF happy anniversary as it celebrates another milestone since its establishment.
The occasion saw senior GDF officers march accompanied by music from the military band, under the command of Major Burns and memorial plaques displayed at the monument.