Governor Ayade launches 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem _... Urges residents, corporate bodies to contribute generously

 

Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade has called on residents in the state to generously support towards the welfare of the families of our fallen heroes by making donations and purchase of Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem.

Sir Ayade made this known on Tuesday while launching the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem in remembrance of fallen heroes of the Armed Forces and make contributions towards the support of their families and welfare of retired men and women of the force at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House,  Calabar.

The Governor represented by his Deputy, Professor Ivara Esu explained that the fallen heroes are officers and men of the Armed Forces who had paid the ultimate price by laying  down their lives during the first and second world wars, the Nigerian civil war, ongoing fight against insurgents and other peace-keeping operations within and outside the shores of the country to ensure we lived peacefully and secured.

"As we celebrate our fallen heroes, we should consider their wives, children and other dependants in need of assistance" the Governor admonished.

Senator Ayade assured that Government would continue to honour her commitment towards assisting the Nigerian legion within her limited resources as the monthly subvention to the legion has already commenced while urging the legionnaires to remain loyal and committed to the unity, peace and security of our dear country and state in particular.

In her address, the Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare, Mrs. Bleessing Egbara, said the Armed Forces Remembrance Day is a national event held in "appreciation of the enormous contributions of our fallen, retired, as well as serving officers of the nation's Armed Forces."

The Commissioner described 'fallen heroes' supreme sacrifice during world wars, civil war, peace-keeping operations, and more recently, insurgency and other uprisings as demomstrations of partriotism, adding that all that was done to guarantee peace and security of the country.

She also entreated the general public to purchase the Armed Forces Rembrance Emblem generously to contribute to the welfare of those they have left behind.

The State Chairman, Nigeria Legion, Captain Joseph E. Offiong (rtd.) intimated that the Nigerian legion was established by an act of parliament in 1988 to cater for the welfare of ex-service men in the country.

Captain Offiong asserted that the State Council of the legion is fully operational and working in line with the legion act to pursue the welfare of legion members and to positively alter the public perception of the veterans.

He expressed gratitude to the Governor for the support and pledged legionnaire's loyalty and cooperation to the State Government and appealed to individuals and cooperate bodies in the state to support and commiserate with the legion by purchasing and wearing the emblems with the pride of identity with those who had laid down their lives for the peace and security of the country.

Highpoint was the launching, purchase and decoration of the emblem to the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu, the Chairman of Legionnaires, among other top government functionaries.