WAR DIARY: #2 FLASH-BACK- REMEMBERING NIGERIA'S FALLEN HEROES

ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY 2015

The armed forces remembrance day celebration is an annual event organized to honour members of the Nigerian armed forces who fought in the first and second world wars,  those who served or are still serving in various peace support operations worldwide, as well as those who fought in the Nigerian civil war. The day is to celebrate  both the dead and the living heroes including all those who suffered various deprivations as a result of wars.

The day was initially marked on the eleventh of November every year to coincide with the remembrance day popularly known as “poppy day” or “11 – 11” for the first and second world war veterans in all commonwealth countries. However in Nigeria, in view of some significant historical developments, it is celebrated on the 15th of January every year. The change to January 15 was done in commemoration of the end of the Nigerian civil war on the 15th of January, 1970.

The armed forces remembrance day has become a national ritual when on every January 15 nationwide, military personnel from the Tri-services and the Nigerian legion converge in different Centres across the nation to celebrate the day and give honour to the fallen and living heroes who put their lives on the line and continue to do so for the territorial integrity of the nation and for peace to reign worldwide. The event is held at the federal, state and local levels where either serving military officers reside or where living ex-service men occupy.

Several events including release of pigeons to symbolize peace, placing of wreaths, playing of the last post, the remembrance day parade, shooting of guns and others characterize this memorable day. Besides parades, placing of wreaths and releasing of pigeons, the event also witnesses religious services in both mosques and churches nationwide.

                                                  RELIVE THE DAY 

General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General KC Osuji, welcoming the executive Governor of Kaduna state, His excellency, Alhaji Doctor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero to the event
 

From left: Ensign to the National colour, Ensign to the Army Regimental colour, Ensign to the Navy regimental colour and Ensign to the Air-force regimental colour.

His excellency, the executive governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Doctor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero laying the first wreath in honour of Nigeria's heroes 

GOC 1 Mechanized Division, Kaduna, Major-General KC Osuji paying a military compliment in respect to  Nigeria's fallen heroes

Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Air-Vice Marshall JC Ifemeje, at the cenotaph

Air Officer Commanding, Training Command, Nigerian Airforce Base, Kaduna, Air-Vice Marshall SS Bala-Ribah laying the ceremonial wreath in honour of the departed

Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, Major-General MI Idris, laying the wreath at the cenotaph

Representative of the Commandant, Nigeriam Navy school of armament technology, Kachia

Commissioner of Police, Kaduna state Command, CP UU Shehu

General salute in honor of the departed heroes

Governor Yero releasing pidgeons, as a symbol of peace at the event

General Officer Commanding 1 Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-General KC Osuji, in a group photo with other senior officers at the event

This material, and other digital content on this blog-site, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from DANTE