Young Students Take Part in Ceremony to Honour National Heroes

Scores of students from primary schools in Kingston participated in a ceremony at National Heroes Park on October 21, where flowers were laid at the shrines of the National Heroes by public officials, led by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen.

Students were selected from Lannaman’s Preparatory, Mona Preparatory, Wolmer’s Preparatory, Jessie Ripoll, Franklin Town Primary, Half-Way Tree Primary and Mountain View Primary Schools.

The yearly event dubbed ‘Salute to the National Heroes’, was staged by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry of Youth and Culture.  It was held as part of activities for Heritage Week, under the theme: ‘Our History…Our Strength’.

The Governor-General, who placed flowers at the shrine of the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, was accompanied by students of Mountain View Primary School.

Other persons laying flowers were Minister of Education, Hon. the Rev.  Ronald Thwaites, representing Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller; Opposition Spokesperson on Urban Renewal, Rural Development and Local Government, Desmond McKenzie, representing Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Holness and nine year-old outstanding student of Free Town Primary School, Jaiden Morrison.

During the floral tributes, the biographies of the National Heroes were read by  Dahlia Harris and Andrew Brodber, accompanied by the playing of patriotic songs by the Jamaica Military Band.

Earlier, Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, called on Jamaicans to unite and make Jamaica a great nation as envisaged by the National Heroes.

“Let National Heroes Day 2013, be a rallying cry , a 21^st Century call to action to unite, to build, to create the great nation that our heroes dreamt of and fought for and gave their lives to create,” she said.

She also urged Jamaicans to reflect on the struggles of the National Heroes and to reconfirm their commitment to the development of the country.

Teacher of Lannaman’s Preparatory school, Joy Skyers, said the students were “elated” to participate in the event.

“Our students enjoyed themselves and they were happy to be a part of the event. I think it was a very good idea to have our students surround the shrines while the wreaths were being laid,” she said.

Also performing at the ceremony were:  Nexus Performing Arts Company, Father Ho Lung and Friends and Digicel Rising Star winner for 2013, Verlando Small.