Abu Dhabi: Remembering UAE’s heroic martyrs who have sacrificed their tomorrows for their country is a memory that should eternally be kept alive and also console their mothers. In this context, a humanitarian initiative was officially launched yesterday (Wednesday), which will see a group of Emirati media representatives visit the mothers of martyrs across the UAE to console and support them both spiritually and financially.
Speaking to Gulf News on the sidelines of the press conference, Manal Ahmad, an established media personality in the UAE, said: “This coincides with the recent remarks made by Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, that August 28 will be observed as the first Emirati Women’s Day, which will be devoted to the mothers of martyrs.
“Kelna UAE association and the International Golden Group have been strategic partners,” said Manal. “They have supported us [media personalities] both emotionally and financially. Apart from reassuring the mothers, we will also offer them gifts such as shields of gold,” she explained to Gulf News.
These visits will take place every Saturday. The first one will be on August 29, with Ras Al Khaima being the initial stop, Manal said.
“We want to make them feel like they are our mothers and to have them consider us as their children who will always remember them, think about them and remind them of the kind of role models they are to us,” Manal said.
Manal, said it all began “as we were brainstorming plans for the upcoming national day on August 28. Our leaders have always communicated the importance of committing acts of benevolence and generating greater good in the UAE, which also further inspired me to think of [this initiative]”.
This announcement marks the beginning of several initiatives in the pipeline, one of which will include commemorating 91 UAE martyrs by Shaikha Fatima. Details will be revealed in due course, Manal said.
Decreed by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Martyrs’ Day will be observed in the UAE on November 30 every year to salute Emirati martyrs.
Maisoon Mubarak is a trainee at Gulf News.
With inputs from Heidi Pullyard, a trainee at Gulf News
