November 10, 2021
By Mohamed Jalloh
President Bio has paid tribute to members of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces who paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives for Sierra Leone and the world at large to enjoy peace.
The fallen heroes were remembered during the symbolic launch of the poppy week on the 9th November 2021.
President Bio opened his speech by quoting the words of John Maxwell Edmonds, a British code breaker who published a number of epitaphs for the graves of the fallen heroes.
“When you go home
Tell them of us, and say,
For Your tomorrow, we gave our today”.
The president explained the purpose of poppy week, further saying that it is a time of tribute and remembrance which include making a deep reflection on the values that motivated those who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives and those who bear the scars of their valor and ordeal.
He said the fallen heroes have risked their lives and limbs for causes far greater than themselves, for people they did not know and will never know, for principles that live on and make our lives and world better every day.
President Bio reminded those who have served in the armed forces especially those who have been on the frontlines during war, disasters, and pandemics and during peace that the symbolic launch of the poppy week reminds every one of the value of sacrifice.
“Today we join the rest of the common wealth of nations to remember those who have defended, served and valiantly stood up to be counted when it mattered most”, he pointed out.
He said peace thrives because they stood and that the freedom and safety we enjoy is attributed to their selfless duty to serve which is supreme.
He concluded by commending the British government and the Common wealth ex-services league for the payment of welfare grants to World War 11 and pre-independence veterans.