Nigeria Armed Forces day 2018

In Your Honor

Unselfishly, you left your fathers and your mothers,

You left behind your sisters and your brothers.
Leaving your beloved children and wives,

You put on hold, your dreams-your lives.
On foreign soil, you found yourself planted

To fight for those whose freedom you granted.
Without your sacrifice, their cause would be lost

 But you carried onward, no matter the cost.

Many horrors you had endured and seen.

Many faces had haunted your dreams.
You cheered as your enemies littered the ground;

 You cried as your brothers fell all around.

When it was over, you all came back home,

Some were left with memories to face all alone;
Some found themselves in the company of friends

 As their crosses cast shadows across the land.

Those who survived were forever scarred

Emotionally, physically, permanently marred.
Those who did not now sleep eternally

 'Neath the ground they had given their lives to keep free.

With a hand upon my heart, I feel The pride and respect; my reverence is revealed
In the tears that now stream down my upturned face

 As our flag waves above you, in her glory and grace.
Freedom was the gift that you unselfishly gave

Pain and death was the price that you ultimately paid.
Every day, I give my utmost admiration

To those who had fought to defend our nation.
~ Author Unknown ~

 

SAVE OUR VETS

Enjoying the cool breeze blowing from the heavy vegetation use to camouflage some part of the cantonment . After enjoying the hot local Pomo being served and ignoring the sweet scent of Palm wine. I sat close to some men whom through their conversation showed that they were once in uniform they were once in the front line while their mates snore in bed. A man in a worn out dashiki sat near me holding a cup of fresh Palm wine with his trembling hands and he was replying a man holding a Nigeria Daily Sun newspaper, other men sitting by were replying him too and I can make from their words that they are discussing the Failure of the Military to end the obstinate Islamic Sect. I watched and listened with keen interest and refuse to say anything that will bring out my identity amongst them. The men were 5 in number and I don’t want to mention names but get this straight they are WAR VETS. Let me name them by them as Man in Dashiki, 2^nd man,3^rd man,4^th man and the 5^th man. So their discussion goes thus :

3^rd Man: You see when inexperienced personnel are leading a group of highly      trained warriors, Things get out of hand, and Can’t they employ the service of those who have served like us to give them some hints in ending those bastards.

Man In Dashiki: What! The war  we served in what is our reward. Just continued hatred among the tribes of this nation

2^nd Man: Abi o! The government haven’t paid me my salary since the 1970s, They told me I am unripe to retire but the funniest  is that I was among the people told to voluntarily retire in which I refused but I have no choice , still they didn’t pay me too.

4^th Man: Oh you are! I was also among the people told to voluntarily retire in which the government promise to incorporate us into civilian jobs they have created for us but all these are just mere promises that  wasn’t fulfilled unh!!

5^th Man : (downed another cup of palm wine) Well what pain me most is that all our senior officers of those days that use to give us suicidal mission while they sleep in the warmth of their homes are now enjoying right now while we suffer . They are participating in Politics and their round tummy is being pumped with the national cake. We just dey suffer for here oh!

  Man in Dashiki : see the last screening exercise we did. The government delayed salaries and yet they told us to come out for screening. We waited in the sun for hours and family of some vets brought their old men that could not walk in wheel barrows. Haba, even American War vets that complained of not being treated well after their time serving in Vietnam still dey enjoy oh!! Their physically challenged are being paid enough to afford a clean wheel chair if not being given a free one.

5^th Man:  I did my own screening at Bonny Camp, If you see one old vet that they brought the man is really old and his body look wet and fleshy like barbed onion. They have to lay him in a rice bag before they could drag him to the Lines.

4^th Man: I just thank God that I was smart enough to have invest in my farm business before I retired so I have something reliable to wait on  without waiting for government Late pension.

5^th Man:  Well I should be thanking God for mine even though the pension is late , how about those teachers and other public Servant protesting that they haven’t been paid a whole year salaries. I thank God for mine oh! I know how one month delayed salaries look like not to talk of 6 months or one year!! This Nigeria ehn !! I tire for them oh!

Man In Dashiki: we have complained that the pension they gave us is too low but they refuse to heed to our cries. You Just take a look at America they are well organised. This Navy seal guy Marcus Luttrel that became popular through the movie Lone Survivor! Can’t you see what he did after he left the army . He Launched a Foundation for disabled and able war vets  and many people responded to it by donating money.All these our retired military general in politics can do the same since they have the public at their fingertips. They can Launch a foundation for us and rich companies can donate money for us .

5^th Man : Later they will be doing Armed Forces day and be praising us with empty lips , That's not enough they should do something than say something. Well as for boko haram the war will soon be over soon. They are just like a wounded snake am very confident we will win this war. I have already told my son serving in the Army at Gwoza,Bornu State that he should not put his whole attention on this war o! He should send money so that i can invest in a business for him here. I told him that he should learn from my lesson  because......... ( he coughed and the yank a pomo into his mouth to continue) while i was serving during the military regime i thought i will enjoy forever an i refuse to invest in any business until retirement. I told my son Last Night that see  in Nigeria if you are a soldier use your head!! After your service  you will be left with yourself alone to face the uncertainities of the civilian world.

Man In Dashiki: Haba! That’s not good enough why are you tampering with his Patroitic Mind, you shoud have let him be don't corrupt his mind

3^rd soldier: Any we remain strong  no matter what am proud i served my country.

In unision: Yes we remain strong .Happy Armed forces day.

Dear readers i hope you enjoy the story and the story have reflect on the lives of our dear vets. They are suffering,They are sick,  They are lonely, They felt neglected, rejected, many are out there rejecting they used their youth to serve this nation.If you can do any thing to help a vet or their families do it now!!!

Lets help our brothers . Remember if you are in the service  you will retire one day so do the needful .

Dear reader if you see a War vets ! Salute him or do something i hope you roger that meaning .

Yesterday Jan 15 is Nigeria Armed forces remebrance day.

THE Armed Forces and 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, and 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 of every year was done in commemoration of the surrender of Biafran troops to the Federal troops on 15 January 1970, thus signaling the end of the Nigerian Civil War that sought to tear apart the unity of Nigeria.

From thence, it has become a national ritual when on every January 15 nationwide, military personnel including the Army, the Navy, the Air force 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 hazarded and continue to hazard their lives 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, Remembrance Day parade, shooting of guns and others characterize this memorable day. The army officers

are usually attired in diverse colours typical of their fields be it Navy, Air force, Army and the ex-service men. Beside parades, placing of wreaths and releasing of pigeons, the event also witnesses religious services in both mosques and churches nationwide.