The Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) has urged all Nigerians to recognise, respect and appreciate the gallantry of the fallen heroes, survivors as well as men and women in Military and Paramilitary uniforms who are daily laying down their lives for peace and security in our land.
General Magashi made the plea in his welcome address at the launch of
the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund held at the state house chamber.
While welcoming President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria and Grand Patron Nigerian Legion, Muhammadu Buhari and other distinguished personalities to the occasion, he said members of the Nigerian Armed Forces have continued to dedicate themselves to onerous and patriotic duty of protecting their fatherland despite the daunting challenges of doing so.
He said the nation owes them a depth of gratitude and responsibility to care for them and support their families.
The Minister therefore appealed to political leaders, the academia, members of the civil society, religeous leaders and the Media to educate and enlighten the citizens on the need to reward the sacrifices of our gallant soldiers pointing out that such realisation will no doubt stimulate interest in the citizenry to procure and wear the emblems with pride.
As the President launched the emblem he traced its origin to a Canadian doctor, Lt Colonel John Mcrae who lost a friend during the second battle of Ypres in Belgium. Subsequently, after the first World War, what was then known as “poppy” now called emblem was adopted as a symbol of rememrance in most nations including Nigeria.
