– Legion amasses over $2M in about 15 minutes

PATRON of the Guyana Legion and Commander of the Armed Forces, President Donald Ramotar Sunday committed $1M to the Guyana Legion, while Prime Minister Samuel Hinds pledged $100,000 on behalf of the Office of the Prime Minister.

This was the good news announced by Prime Minister Hinds Sunday at the reception hosted at Coghlan House, Carifesta Avenue, by the Guyana Legion, in observance of Armistice Day (Remembrance Day) 2013.
And together with other pledges and on-the-spot donations collected at the function, the Legion amassed a total of $2,029,240 in just under 15 minutes.
Other donors included The Disciplined Services – $250,000; The Commissioner of Police/Police Force – $400,000; Guyana Defence Force – $200,000; Fire Service – $50,000 and cash-on-the-spot donations -$29,240.
Prime Minister Hinds brought greetings to the forum, on behalf of President Ramotar who is preparing to leave for Sri Lanka today to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The prime minister highlighted the government’s commitment to continue working in support of the Guyana Legion, and the Veterans of World War II.
Noting that “Our people served and served well during the two Wars,” the prime minister endorsed the sentiments of Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Mark Phillips,that the men who gave their lives had paid the supreme sacrifice in the cause of peace and freedom during the two World Wars and should not be forgotten.
Noting too that “we have been fortunate not to have had a World War since then,” the prime minister said that battles, struggles and violence continue in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other places.
For Guyana’s part, he considered it fitting that “We should meet each year, and commemorate, even though no amount of songs we sing; poems we recite, nor gloom that can pervade us, can compensate for the lives and property lost.”
Under such circumstances, the prime minister sees it as timely that “we recommit ourselves to work at all times for peace in our country and the well being of all citizens.”

SUPPORT FOR GDF VETERANS
On this note, he added: “From the government’s side, today we reiterate our pledge to continue to provide support towards the veterans of World War I and II, and we have begun support for our veterans from the Guyana Defence Force and other members of the Disciplined Units…”
At this juncture, the prime minister took great pleasure in handing over the $1M on behalf of the President and $100,000 on his own behalf.
And President of the Guyana Legion, Duncan Stuart, expressed gratitude to the president, the prime minister and all other units and individuals who whole heartedly gave towards their cause.
General Secretary Kingsley Nelson did the honours of acknowledging the oldest and longest serving veterans, namely Cecil Cunha, Joseph Gooding, Edgar Mitttelholzer and Benjamin Durante.
The Commemoration Reception was well planned, fairly well attended, but failed to attract a single diplomatic presence. The representative from the British High Commission who earlier had so graciously officiated at the wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph, was unable to attend.
Also removed from the programme was the announcement of prize winners and the presentation of trophies and other prizes to winning schools in the Legion’s Annual Schools Quiz Competition.
However, at the function, the spirit of camaraderie pervaded amidst the exhilarating and inspirational performance of the Police Steel Band which began the morning’s programme with renditions that enthralled the audience. In like vein, the female choir did a fantastic job.

(By Shirley Thomas)