By Samuel Akumatey
Ho, Nov. 11, GNA – Private Godfred Amegadzie, one of the oldest survivors of the First World War, joined this year’s Remembrance Day celebration in the Volta Region.
Despite being frail, he mustered the strength to attend the ceremony and was greeted with cheers and loud applause from officers and the horde of dignitaries as he made his way up the dais to join the ranks of security chiefs and the Regional Minister.
Contingents at the parade were from the Ghana Armed Forces, the Police, Prison, Fire, and Immigration Services, and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
A contingent of surviving veterans in the region was also mounted, and they won cheers from the crowd for their impressive parade skills.
Remembrance Day is observed by Commonwealth nations to mark the end of the war and to remember all who died in the two world wars.
The day remembers lives lost to struggles for independence, peacekeeping missions, and other wars worldwide.
The day also marks the signing of the armistice by various powers during the world wars.
The Volta event, held at the Jubilee Park in Ho, was under the command of Captain Kojo Atiemo.
There were interfaith prayers of commemoration and the reading of scripture, and a siren blast and multiple artillery fire marked the 11th hour.
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister who was the special guest of honour, laid a wreath on behalf of the President and the people of the nation, while Commodore Solomon Asiedu Larbi, Flag Officer Commanding of the Naval Training Command, laid one on the behalf of the nation’s security officers.
Among the dignitaries at the event were decorated veteran Major-General Henry Kwami Anyidoho (Rtd), and Major-General Carl Modey (Rtd).
Private Amegadzie, the celebrated veteran shared his experience with the Ghana News Agency after the ceremony and honoured the memory of his bosom friend on the battlefields of the First World War, who could not make it out alive.
He called for unity among all Ghanaians to safeguard peace.
GNA