Dubai: When her eighth son wanted to join his seven brothers in the army, the army said no — he needed to look after his mother. But their patriotic Emirati mother wouldn’t take no for an answer.
She went straight to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces: the eighth son is in the army now.
Shaikh Mohammad visited the family of the late Humaid Al Nahm in Kalba on Tuesday and praised the unswerving patriotism of his widow who insisted on having her eighth son also enrolled in the Armed Forces.
Shaikh Mohammad thanked Amina Salem Al Marashid whose seven other sons are already serving in the UAE armed forces abroad, six in Yemen and one in Somalia, for demonstrating her national spirit this way.
Determined to join his brothers, the eighth son submitted his papers to join the UAE Armed Forces performing the national duty in Yemen, but the General Command, while appreciating his intention, rejected his application, advising him to take care of his mother.
On learning about it, Amina headed straight to the General Command of the UAE Armed Forces and asked officers to accept her son’s application.
The general command conveyed its gratitude to her for her patriotic spirit, but refused the request.
Amina then decided to communicate with Shaikh Mohammad.
On learning about it, Shaikh Mohammad accepted her request. And he visited the mother personally to thank her.
Shaikh Mohammad said he was proud of the Emirati mother and praised the honourable achievements of her sons who had set an example of sacrifice for their country.
