Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said national anniversaries are a reflection of UAE’s achievements and gains, with each one of them carrying honourable significance.

“The anniversary — Commemoration Day — we mark today represents the noblest values of patriotism, loyalty, belonging and dedication. It is the day of honour and pride, the day to pay tribute to our intrepid martyrs, celebrating their bravery, determination and sacrifice. Our fallen heroes have given up their own lives for the UAE flag to remain flying aloft with power, pride and glory,” Shaikh Mohammad said in his statement to mark Commemoration Day (Martyrs’ Day), which falls tomorrow.

Here is the full text of Shaikh Mohammad’ statement:

“Today, we stand together to honour the heroism and sacrifice of our martyrs, immortalising them in history with pride, honour and gratitude, and recognising the ultimate sacrifice they have made for our nation and the values of humanity.

“The decision by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan that November 30 will be marked as Commemoration Day pays homage to the sacrifices of our loyal servicemen and the values of bravery, selflessness and heroism they stand for. It also reaffirms that our nation never forgets its people, civilian or military, who sacrifice their lives for it and work for its prosperity. Our martyrs will always be a symbol of patriotism for our people.

“We take great pride in our martyrs as we do in their families, parents, wives, children and relatives who have demonstrated extraordinary patience, awareness, willpower and genuine love for their country. They have inspired their fellow citizens’ absolute faith in the strength of our country, the coherence of its people and their unity in the face of challenges and difficult times.

“To them I say on this day: You are worthy of the pride we have in you, and that will be passed on to your children, grandchildren and future generations of this beloved nation. Our pride in you is immeasurable; with your faith and patriotism, you have truly become a symbol of the ideal citizen.

“We also stand together to remember, with pride and admiration, the deep national unity of our citizens who have shown great feelings of solidarity and support towards martyrs’ families, and shown that the whole nation values their sons’ sacrifices.

“By standing together, the people of the UAE have demonstrated the unity and coherence of the Emirati society, the solidarity of its children and their willingness to answer the call of duty without hesitation. This attitude reflects the genuine Emirati nature as one, coherent family interlaced with its leadership even in the darkest of times. It is an image that has earned us the respect of the world for the strength of our country and its resilience against any attempt to challenge the fabric of our nation.

“On Commemoration Day, we realise that the best recognition for our martyrs is to continue achieving the mission they died for. It is therefore the mission of every one of us to keep our great nation strong and its flag flying aloft. With determination and strength, we will continue our march towards glory, progress and prosperity.

“The souls of our intrepid martyrs will always be beacons of light in the history of our nation. The UAE reaffirms that it will never hesitate to shoulder its national, ethical and humanitarian responsibilities, will always stand by distressed nations defending their right to security and development, and will continue to be a source of stability in the region and the world. Our martyrs have written an honourable chapter in the history of their nation that our children, grandchildren and future generations can be proud of and draw determination from in order to continue the quest of the United Arab Emirates to attain and preserve its rightful place among civilised nations.

“May God Almighty bless the souls of our martyrs and grant them eternal rest in paradise. May God bring their families the best rewards. May God keep the UAE strong and great forever as a model of patriotism and sacrifice, with its glorious history and ongoing determination to build a prosperous future for its people and humanity.

“May peace be upon you all.”