His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, this morning led the charge in laying the ceremonial wreath, paying tribute to the fallen heroes of World Wars I and II.
“We assemble at this War Memorial on this Day of Remembrance to call to mind the sacrifice of the gallant men and women who gave their lives in two World Wars. We are indebted forever to them for their supreme sacrifice in the cause of peace and freedom.”
The President also saluted the current serving men and women of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who “stand guard at our borders, who leave their homes with a dignity and pride, not of war, but of peace — the peaceful existence of our nation, the peaceful existence of our people, and the sovereignty and security of our nation. We thank them. We salute them”.
Following the ceremony, the President, Acting Prime Minister, the Honourable Gail Texeira, and other cabinet Ministers had breakfast with members of the diplomatic community and senior officials from the Joint Services.
The annual ceremony, Remembrance Day, is held on the second Sunday of November at the Cenotaph, one of Guyana’s war monuments. This monument, located at the intersection of Main and Church Streets in Georgetown, serves as a tangible reminder of the Guyanese soldiers who died in service during World War I (1914 – 1918) and World War II (1939 – 1945).