Almost 46 years ago, just as the Founding Fathers were meeting in the Union House to combine the seven emirates into this great entity, there were members of the police and security forces who were laying down their lives in the service and duty of the nascent and fledgling nation, trying to prevent the sovereign islands from being illegally annexed by the government of Iran. From its very beginning, the UAE has garnered the love, honour, duty and devotion of loyal sons and daughters who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in the service of this land.
Those who don the uniforms of service — be it in the ranks of the Armed Forces, flying helicopters and planes on dangerous or necessary humanitarian missions, serving in the ranks of law-enforcement officers, engaging in making aid available to far-flung corners of the globe, or working behind the scenes in the field of diplomacy, quietly and effectively spreading the soft power of the UAE — share a common bond. And that common bond is of duty to the UAE and its Rulers and Government.
When those who wear the red, black, white and green patch of the UAE on their arms are called to serve, they do so knowing that they are fulfilling a duty and honour to a grateful nation, putting their lives in danger and on missions that might end in the ultimate sacrifice. Those who answer the call of service never question, are proud to serve, and do so knowing that when they say goodbye to family and friends, to mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, they may never return. That is a bravery that is profound, and their willingness to serve others speaks of their loyalty, dedication and professionalism.
These past few years have not been easy. Across this region, there are dark forces at work, intent on spreading the cancer of extremism and sedition. In far too many places, too many innocent civilians have endured the mantle of hatred proffered by these men. And as former British prime minister Winston Churchill had noted, all it takes for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing. The leadership of the UAE has fully embraced and embodied the spirit of the founding principles laid down by late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and is determined that it will not stand by as evil prospers. Nor will it stand on the sidelines of history as a nonchalant observer while forces and regimes beyond our border and wider region bring misery, murder and mayhem.
Dangerous missions
Whether it be in Yemen, where the evil of Al Qaida and the rebellion of Al Houthis must be faced, whether it be in bringing peace and development to Afghanistan, in the refugee camps inhabited by the Rohingya, or on the plains of Iraq and Syria, in facing up to the evil propagated by Daesh (the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) and those who follow its demented philosophy, or anywhere else where the voices of need cry out, the UAE will not shirk its duties. And bringing succour to the needy, peace to conflict zones, and the rule of legitimate law to replace the anarchy of rebellion, place an onerous duty on the men and women who serve this nation.
Commemoration Day is a solemn occasion. It is a day when we all stop in our daily duties, stand still, and offer a thoughtful prayer for those who have given their lives so that we may enjoy the freedom, safety and security that we take for granted. Duty is indeed a noble calling. Those who serve this nation are true heroes. And those who have paid the ultimate price deserve our highest recognition and are indeed men and women of extraordinary courage and bravery.
Roll of honour
During this year, there are many who have answered the ultimate call: Mohammad Ali Zainal Al Bastaki, Abdullah Mohammad Eisa Obaid Al Kaabi, Ahmad Rashid Salim Ali Al Mazroui, Ahmad Abdul Rahman Ahmad Al Tunaiji, Abdul Hamid Sultan Al Hammadi, Rashid Ali Mohammad Al Dahouri, Obaid Jowher Obaid Al Mazroui, Juma Mohammad Abdullah Al Kaabi, Nader Mubarak Eisa Sulaiman, Sulaiman Mohammad Al Dahouri, Khalid Ali Al Beloushi, Zakaria Sulaiman Obaid Al Za’abi, Abdullah Mohammad Eisa Al Hammadi, Hassan Abdullah Mohammad Al Bishr, Ahmad Khalifa Al Beloushi, Jasem Saleh Al Za’abi, Mohammad Saeed Al Hassani, Samir Mohammad Murad Abu Bakr, Sultan Mohammad Ali Al Naqbi, Nasser Garib Al Mazroui, Khalid Mohammad Al Shehi, Ali Saeed Saif Al Mesmari, Badr Yahiya Mohammad Al Marashdeh, Saeed Mattar Ali Al Kaabi and Abdullah Ahmad Al Hosani.
These men served and never questioned. They answered the call of duty and never faltered. They join the ranks of martyrs that will forever be remembered by a grateful nation. If there is a solace for these men’s families, for the aching hearts and for the voids left at supper tables or a parent missing for school performances, at weddings and family gatherings, that solace is knowing that these brave men died serving the UAE. The UAE, its Rulers, its Government, it citizens and all those who call this great nation home, will always remember their sacrifice. We will not forget them.
