President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has, by proclamation, declared Sunday, February 11, 2024, as Armed Forces Day, to be celebrated on Monday, February 12, 2024 as a National Holiday.
On that day, a Thanksgiving Service will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Sinkor, Monrovia, Montserrado County, beginning at 10 AM.
The proclamation directs all military and paramilitary organizations within the Republic to organize and execute appropriate programs, including parades and other ceremonies in recognition of the day.
This year marks the 67th anniversary of the Armed Forces Day and will be celebrated at the Barclay Training Center (BTC) under the theme: “The Armed Forces Support to Democracy: The role and responsibility of the AFL.”
According to the presidential proclamation, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations to Liberia, Christine Umutoni, will serve as guest speaker and that special attention and honor will be given to the veterans of the AFL and the Coast Guard, who have seen active and experienced actual service therein and have upheld the tenets of democracy and human rights during services.
The official celebration will kick off at 7Am at the Barclay Training Center (BTC) where the parade will be reviewed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
It will be graced by the presence of very imminent and distinguished traditional leaders, members of the Senate and House of Representatives, Diplomatic Corps, the Clergy, the Academia, Distinguished Liberian Citizens and Senior Officers of the AFL, retired and serving alike. Major General Paul D. Roger, Adjutant General of the Michigan National Guard will also grace the occasion.
This year Armed Forces Day will be hosted under the theme: “The Armed Forces Support to Democracy: The role and responsibility of the AFL.”
Madam Christine Umutoni, Resident Coordinator, United Nations, Liberia, will serve as the Guest Speaker for the 67th Armed Forces Day.
The official celebration brings together all National Security Services: Armed Forces of Liberia, Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service, Liberia National Fire Service, Liberia Custom Service, Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency, Monrovia City Police, Liberia Seaport Police, Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Forestry Park Rangers, and Liberia Scout Association will form part of the parade at the BTC.
Distinguished Service Order (DSO) will be awarded to Colonel Tevoedjre Djimon Dieudonne, Benin Army; Colonel Dokoui- Fofo Andre, Benin Army; Late Liuetenant Colonel Soglohoun Max, Benin Army; Brigadier General Aaron Johnson (Retired), Armed Forces of Liberia, Colonel Anthony F. Norpah, (Retired), Armed Forces of Liberia, and Cllr Frances Johnson M. Allison.
These distinguished personalities in varied ways have served the Armed Forces of Liberia and the Republic of Liberia over the years with unwavering dedication and distinction.
The Armed Forces Day Ball (AFDB) is one of several activities lined up to commemorate the Armed Forces Day (AFD) celebration and it is scheduled for Feb 12 at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia beginning at 6pm.
All government offices, as well as public and business houses, to be closed on that day.
Today, Thursday and tomorrow, there will be a Unit Static Display held at the Barclay Training Center which is for university students only and will begin from 9AM to 3PM.
University students attending the Units Static Display must be dressed properly. During this exhibition, various units of the AFL will showcase their equipment at different stations while the units will display a few of the capabilities, roles and functions within the AFL.
On Friday, Feb 9, 2024, a Jummat Service will be held at the Heritage/ Wamma Mosque, in Red Light, Paynesville beginning at 12 noon.
The Jummat Service is a Muslim prayer that dedicates the nation and the Armed Forces of Liberia to the Almighty Allah for his continual guidance and protection.
On Saturday, Feb 10, 2024, a cleaning-up campaign will be conducted within the general area of Freeport to Gabriel Tucker’s Breach, Montserrado County beginning at 0630hrs. Some foreign guests, 100 AFL personnel, employees of the Ministry of National Defense, staff of Lonestar MTN and some residents will work to give the involved communities a facelift.
Also there will be Medical Outreach will be held at Gaya Clinic, Bomi County. The exercise will begin at 7:30AM.
A team of 20 personnel from the AFL Medical Command will conduct general health education, HIV prevention messages and basic medical screening for the local inhabitants. Outpatient treatments will be administered.
Followed by a mini-sport tournament that will feature both male and female soccer games at the Barclay Training Center beginning at 10 AM and this will bring together the Joint Security Team, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Press Union of Liberia, the Lonestar Cell MTN Team and the AFL for the male category.
The female category will bring together World Girls FC, Real Majah FC, Earth Angels FC and Determined Girls FC.
Meanwhile, the proclamation which is in consonance with an Act of Legislature declaring the 11th day of February of each year as Armed Forces Day noted that the celebration is also in recognition of the vital role the Armed Forces of Liberia plays in defending and protecting Liberia’s Territorial integrity and its people from foreign aggression, and upholding the social and political liberty of the people of Liberia, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia.
“With the passage of the National Defense Act of 2008, the Armed Forces of Liberia remains steadfast in supporting the foundation for long-term security and economic development in Liberia, as well as fostering regional peace through peacekeeping missions for the consolidation of enhancing and strengthening democracy throughout the region,” the presidential proclamation declared.
“With the view to inculcate a sense of loyalty and patriotism in the citizens of the nation, as well as to recognize the immense and sacrificial services rendered by the gallant men and women of the Armed Forces of Liberia for the protection of a free and democratic State, the Government of the Republic of Liberia found it necessary to recognize the talents, services, patriotism, loyalty, and gallantry for the upkeep of this noble heritage by those men and women, who are now memorialized, through the establishment of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as ordered by the Act of the Legislature of Liberia of July 22, 2008,” the release said.
The proclamation further stated that, recognizing the professional development of the men and women in arms, the AFL has been reinvigorated to discharge its constitutional responsibilities of safeguarding the Liberian borders, including remaining vigilant for possible foreign aggression against the State, as well as directly and technically engaging in road construction efforts, international peacekeeping in Mali, Sudan, and South Sudan, and other sector initiatives across the country.
The proclamation further noted that the observance of the event will inculcate the sense of loyalty and patriotism in the citizens of the nation and recognize the immense and sacrificial services rendered by the gallant men and women of the Armed Forces of Liberia for the protection of free and democratic state of Liberia.
