President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that the UAE will remain indebted to its heroes who sacrificed their very souls for the sake of their homeland…reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
The UAE is celebrating its annual Commemoration Day today. The day is a national event and a precious occasion to express pride in the sacrifices of the country’s civil and military citizens.
In August 2015, President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan allocated 30th November of each year to celebrate the country’s martyrs and recognise their giving and sacrifices.
He also made the day to be a national holiday, with celebrations being held with the participation of the state’s institutions, citizens and residents, in commemoration of the values of devotion, loyalty and patriotism.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, ordered the establishment of an office in his court to monitor the affairs of the families of martyrs, underscoring the keenness of the UAE’s leadership to take care of them.
The selection of 30th November as Commemoration Day coincides with the date of the martyrdom of Salem Suhail bin Khamis, who died on 30th November, 1971, while performing his national duty.
President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that the UAE will remain indebted to its heroes who sacrificed their very souls for the sake of their homeland.
“The sacrifices of our martyrs will remain indelible in the conscience of the homeland and our national memory. Their heroic deeds go down in the annals of history as a source of inspiration to ensure our nation’s glory, stability and steady advances toward a brighter future,” President said in a statement given to ‘Nation Shield,’ the UAE Armed Forces’ magazine.
“We salute the soldiers, officers and leaders of our valiant armed forces, and all members of our security services who’re sparing no effort while protecting the achievements of our nation. We also salute our sons and daughters working in all fields of national duty, including development, services, humanitarian works, and health fields, inside and outside the country.”
The good deeds and sacrifices of our martyrs will remain as long as there is life, and their blood is manifested in our identity, reinforcing our glory, said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
“The martyrs, who are our sons, brothers and ancestors, tell the history of our country with medals of honour, and their blood tells the story of a glory and pride,” he said.
“I salute the officers and soldiers of our Armed Forces and security authorities, as well as our military service recruits, and I reiterate my appreciation for their commitment, efficiency and willingness to train and develop their skills, making them among the best armies in the world.”
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has said, “We draw lessons from the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs for a strong and resilient country, capable of facing challenges… We are proud of them.” Sheikh Mohamed said the names of the UAE’s fallen heroes and their memories would live on forever.
In a statement to the ‘Nation Shield’ journal on the occasion of Commemoration Day, marked 30th November, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed said, “Over time, we are keen to preserve this anniversary and keep it alive in our memory. We intend to inscribe our martyrs’ heroism into the brightest pages of the nation’s history so that future generations will know how much their ancestors sacrificed to uphold the UAE’s security, values and dignity.
The UAE has launched many initiatives to commemorate the country’s martyrs. In 2016, the Martyr’s Memorial was established, which was renamed by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed as “Wahat Al Karama” . Spanning 46,000 square metres and located directly opposite Abu Dhabi’s world-famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Wahat Al Karama is a timeless tribute that honours the Emirati martyrs who sacrificed their lives in service of their country.
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Upon the directives of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the National Archives (NA) established the Martyrs Archives project and began building a museum to highlight the heroic actions of martyrs in the battlefields.
Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), ordered the naming of a hall in the FDF’s branches in Abu Dhabi as the “Nation’s Martyrs’ Hall,” in recognition of their sacrifices.
The UAE’s leadership has prioritised the affairs of the families of martyrs, under the framework of a comprehensive action system aimed at providing them with family stability, through housing programmes, comprehensive healthcare programmes and social support initiatives.
