By S. Siapha Mulbah
The Ministry of National Defense of Liberia is gearing up for the celebration of the 66th Armed Force Day across the country with series of activities lined up for the official parade.
The Armed Forces Day being February 11 of each year since 1957 had witnessed men and women under the seal and flag of the country demonstrating the beauty of defending the motherland through military awareness on the principal streets of Monrovia.
This year, the Armed Forces of Liberia is accordingly hosting the 66th edition of the annual event under the theme; “Inter-Agency Collaboration: Working Together for Peaceful Elections”
Addressing the press at the Ministry of Defense yesterday, the Assistant Minister for Public Affairs, Sam Collins, said each year, the President as Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia by Proclamation declares February 11 as “Armed Forces Day” to be observed as a National Holiday throughout the Republic.
According to him, the day is historical and as such the public is expected to follow the activities in order to give the fullest courtesy to the military and other essential security apparatus that form part of the array of the calendar.
“The Armed Forces Day historically was legislated on February 11, 1957, with the sole intent of paying homage to the men and women in arms of the AFL who are making tireless sacrifices to maintain the security of our nation as well as those who had sacrificed their lives for their country and people in line of their selfless duties,” he said.
He disclosed further that for the past three years the AFL had been in partnership with Lonestar Cell GSM Company which is exercising corporate responsibility through some basic assistances rendered.
“On February 11, 2023 the AFL will be celebrating its 66th Armed Forces Day and 115 years of existence, dating back to 1908. The Armed Forces Day celebration has always been used as an opportunity for the public, foreign guests and dignitaries to be acquainted with activities regarding the development and progress within the AFL,” Assistant Minister Collins added.
On the calendar of events, Collins said, activities this year will begin on February 3, 2023 with the Muslim soldier’s service called the Jumma Service at the Edward Beyan Kesselee Military Barracks along the Roberts International Airport Highway in Lower Margibi County.
On Saturday, February 4, the day after the Jumma according to Collins, the AFL will hold a cleaning up campaign with its partners Lonestar Cell and Paynesville City Cooperation in the Duport Road community.
“100 AFL personnel along with employees of the Ministry of National Defense and the residents of Duport Road will give the community a facelift while the AFL Band will provide music.
The AFL is executing this year’s clean-up campaign in partnership with the Lonestar Cell MTN and Paynesville City Corporation PCC,” he maintained.
On the same Saturday Sam Collins revealed that the Medical command of the AFL will carry on a medical outreach in Po River to provide assistance and awareness to civilians and residents in that part of the country while a mini sport tournament will climax activities of the day at the Samuel Kayon Doe Sports Complex.
The rest of the activities includes a Sunday Thanksgiving Service at the EBK Barracks followed by Symposium at the Monrovia City Hall on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
On the topic, “Fostering Effective Stakeholders Engagement for Sustainable Democracy,” the symposium is expected to bring together relevant stakeholders to deliberate carefully on adequate preparation for the 2023 General and Presidential Elections.
For the first time at the Armed Forces of Liberia, Sam Collins intimated that the army will have a unit display for Liberian students who are ambitious of knowing the workings of units in the AFL.
“AFL will hold a Unit Display for two days at the Barclay Training Center. The event will be open to the student community from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. daily. Students attending the Units’ Display must be dressed in uniforms. During this exhibition, various units of the AFL will showcase their equipment at different stations on February 8 and 9,” he intimated.
Meanwhile the AFL has named Maj Gen Pablo Estrada, Commanding General, 46Th Military Police Command Task Force 46, Lansing, Michigan, as the Guest Speaker for the 66Th Armed Forces Day.
According to Collins neighboring countries are expected to grace the Saturday, February 11 events through their different heads of military and the President will review the parade as the formal procedure dictates.
