By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, Nov. 13, GNA – The Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (ERCC) and various security agencies has commemorated the 79th Remembrance Day, also known as Poppy Day, with a solemn parade in Koforidua.
This annual event which is held on Novemeber !1 pays tribute to the brave members of the armed forces who lost their lives in the line of duty, particularly since the end of the First World War.
The remembrance ceremony commenced at precisely 11:00 a.m., in line with the traditional observance of the day across Commonwealth member states.
A total of seven contingents participated in the impressive troops march, which included representatives from the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Immigration Service, and the first Battalion of Infantry Regimental Band alongside the Police Service Band.
The parade highlighted the significant contributions of these security agencies and emphasized the importance of remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Activities for the event included the sounding of the “last post, a one-minute silence, the sounding of ” reveille,” and wreath laying.
Mr. Seth Kwame Acheampong, Eastern Regional Minister, who described the day as a show of respect and the event serving as a poignant reminder of the values of courage and duty that the armed forces uphold, laid a wreath to pay tribute to the gallant soldiers who died in line of duty during the World War I.
Ex-Warrant Officer One (WO1) George Mensah, Eastern Regional Chairman of the Veterans Association of Ghana, also laid a wreath on behalf of the veterans.
Citations were presented to some retired officers for their hard work which has contributed significantly to maintaining Ghana’s peace and progress.
During World War I, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, over 30 nations declared war. The majority aligned themselves with the Allies, including Serbia, Russia, France, Britain, Italy, and the United States.
They faced opposition from the Central Powers, which comprised Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire.
What initially began as a localized conflict in southeastern Europe rapidly escalated into a war among European empires.
The entry of Britain and its Empire transformed the conflict into a truly global war, unprecedented in its geographical scope.
Combat occurred not only on the Western Front but also in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, marking a significant expansion of warfare across multiple continents.
GNA