School students know very little or nothing at all about the history of the Fijian military and my earnest desire is to involve the school children and to get them to know what Fijian military is all about.
This was highlighted by retired Major and the current President of the Research of Intellectual Property Association Ratu Peni Volavola at the Remembrance Day ceremony held at the Battery Hill National War Memorial Grounds in Nasese.
In an interview with fijivillage News, Volavola says school children should get actively involved in celebrations like this and take part in bringing wreaths, raising and lowering the flag and reciting the ode for the fallen.
He says year in, year out, it’s the same audience – soldiers, the Police Force, diplomatic corps and parliamentarians.
Volavola says to truly honour our veterans, we need to actively include our youth and they should understand that they have shed blood to be free; this is not just ceremonial.
He says sadly, we do not create a lot of awareness for younger children to appreciate the involvement of the military that has brought Fiji to what it is today, a very free country.
Meanwhile, speaking to fijivillage News, Akosita Nawaqalevu shared her experience of Remembrance Day and the sacrifices of her late husband, Esira Nawaqalevu who served Fiji for 16 years, including missions in Sinai, Iraq and Lebanon.
She says since her husband’s passing in 2018, she and her daughter Asilika have come to honour his memory every year.
Nawaqalevu says they used to send letters when her husband was on missions and when the parades were held, families would gather, and that was when they received updates.
She says the only thing they could do was pray for him every day, hoping he would come back safe.
She adds that her husband returned to Fiji after retiring but he passed away in the same year.
Nawaqalevu’s message to other families is to keep the soldiers in their prayers, especially those serving in challenging places far from home.
