Each morning as we awake in the comfort of our homes, we enjoy the privileges of peace and freedom. These conditions are mandated as a God-given inheritance.
Do we ever take a moment to ponder the priceless sacrifices of our ancestors towards this achievement? Do we consider the true value of celebrated independence as individuals and our freedom as a self-governing nation?
Many take this precious privilege frivolously, as though peace and freedom are achieved effortlessly and without challenges. Realization and provision of these fundamental social conditions require steadfast personal commitment. Freedom and peace are usually integrated with disciplined self-awareness and self-management. Every member of our Barbadian society has to contribute responsibly in order to maintain continuous harmony in our homes, communities and island.
Individuals who have demonstrated the true meaning of loving Barbados and whose actions of patriotism represent selfless sacrifice incarnate are quickly becoming lost in the shadows of our society.
Remembrance Day is observed by the Commonwealth of Nations, with the exception of Mozambique, as the recognized Memorial Day.
The concept of this significant day was to keep the importance and inevitability of freedom alive in our minds. This celebratory occasion is set aside to pay homage to members of the universal military family who died on duty during the Great Wars.
Military personnel who died in subsequent diverse conflicts and peace operations are also represented with merit. The Poppy or Flanders Plant is the official representative symbol for the 11/11/1918 Armistice Day. Among the British soldiers participating in World War II were approximately 16 000 West Indians who volunteered to fight alongside the English troops. Noticeably among the ranks, were well over 100 enlisted women who were posted abroad. The Women’s Auxiliary Air Force was home to 80 of these West Indian women.
Although typical Remembrance Day celebrations emphasize the uniformed military forces, it is equally important to remember, recognize and appreciate the approximately 236 Barbadian and Caribbean civilian volunteers who were killed or reported missing, and the 265 injured during the Second World War.
Recognition should also be spotlighted on the 103 regional air force personnel who received decorations. Our “son of the soil”, the late Prime Minister Errol W. Barrow, was a flying officer and personal navigator to the commander-in-chief of the British Zone of occupied Germany. During World War II he safely flew 45 bombing missions over Europe. This credible achievement qualifies him for a special mention.
Courageous, committed Barbadians joined and boosted the numbers of the Merchant Navy during the second Great War. Assignment to this unit was considered one of the most dangerous, because one third of the merchant seamen died during that war. Local and regional recognition was further enhanced by the 1 000 soldiers who formed the Caribbean Regiment and were deployed to the Middle East and Italy in 1944. Barbados and the region also had representatives in the Royal Engineers, who functioned as specialist technicians.
As we celebrate Remembrance Day in Barbados, we should endeavour to find time to pause and acknowledge all of our veterans. Not by tokenism; not by merely socializing, playing dominoes, picnicking and going to the beach. We should take a moment to holistically look into our souls and examine what we are really doing with the blood-stained legacy our veterans have left behind.
These veterans died defending a way of life that they felt was worth dying for. Let us seriously consider their sterling contributions and honour each and every one with a special prayer and a pledge to restore to our island Barbados the comradely fellowship and love of God for which our veterans valiantly gave their lives.
Ricardo L.H. Swire is president of the Ex-Military Services Association of Barbados.
