AWWII ANZAC Twilight Dedication Service to pay tribute to our unsung heroes and gallant soldiers of WWII (World War II) was held at the Heroes Memorial Park on April 16.
The ANZAC dedication was officiated by Datuk Lee Kim Shin,the Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. It was attended by a 20-member Australian delegation of WWII Veterans and family and the Students Exchange group. Also present was a large group of Military and Police Veterans led by Commanding Officer, Malaysia Infantry Division Major General Datuk Stephen Mundaw. The Australian delegation was led by the President of ‘Borneo Exhibition Group’, Mr. Ryan Rowland.
Datuk Lee Kim Shin led the dedication to pay tribute to all our unsung heroes and gallant soldiers of WWII who sacrificed their lives to defend for peace and freedom that we enjoyed today. Lee called upon the descendants of these heroes and also our young generation to research and help to record oral history from the tales that their grandfathers told them.
“These unsung heroes left a formidable legacy of peace, hope and freedom for us to continue to cherish and for our young generation to remember and to continue to uphold their spirit of gallantry for humanity and for our nation building,” said Lee.
“For our veterans who are here with us and also those who could not be here because of their health etc. We would like to record and to say big thank you for their courage and sacrifice to defend for peace and unity. We remember you all in our heart and to wish you continued good health. We hope that as we approach the 75th Anniversary of WWII in 2020, the children and grandchildren of our veterans will take the opportunity to come to Borneo and Sarawak to relive the sweet memories of their fathers and grandfathers and to retrace their footprints or footsteps here in the island of Borneo.
Thanks for developing this beautiful Heroes Memorial Park for our young generation to reflect and for posterity as our historical charter of our Kuching City – a city of Unity,” Lee continued.
Mr. Ryan in his response expressed the need for all to understand that act of inhumane treatment affecting the civil population especially the young children in the many conflicts in the world even today for which we need to have the spirit of reconciliation and constrain rather than confrontation alone. The young generation through Student Exchange programme will become our sincere intent of heritage to promote the culture of peace and hope as they will carry our future and peace.
President, Sarawak Tourism Federation in his opening welcome speech, thank the Australian delegation for their continuing support and visit and thank all departments and agencies for helping with all the dedication arrangement. In particular, he highlighted the initiative of Dato Lim Kian Hock, the Chairman STF Heritage Development Committee for his long contribution toward Sarawak heritage promotion through such events.
