WHY VETERANS AND SERVICEMEN SHOULD BE HONOURED
Hari Pahlawan, which falls on July 31 every year, commemorates the servicemen killed during the two world wars and Malayan Emergency. It also honours all servicemen and veterans who lost their lives in the line of duty throughout Malaysia’s history.
We pay tribute to them because we would not be able to enjoy our way of life and freedom without the sacrifices that these veterans and servicemen have made for us and our nation. This country would simply not be what it is today were it not for their critical contribution throughout these years.
Hence, I do get irritated when citizens take these sacrifices for granted and make irrational comments like “the military serves no purpose” or “we spend unnecessary money on the military, which could be better spent elsewhere”. Sad to say but these people are totally ignorant of the role of the military. The military is an insurance policy the country takes to defend its status as an independent nation. The nature of international politics tells us that we cannot predict future strategic scenarios. Friendly nations today may become foes tomorrow. Hence, we cannot afford to take chances as far as national interests are concerned. The military is always there, first to act as a deterrent to potential aggressors and if deterrence fails, then to fight and win wars!
We must therefore always be grateful not only to servicemen but also to veterans who served willingly because they loved and believed in this great country of ours. Whilst in uniform, they risked their lives every day for the security of our country. They served and protected us 24 hours a day without complaints. In the process, these veterans made enormous sacrifices, that is, they left their families at home, they were deployed in hostile operational areas, they endured tough living conditions and their lives were in constant danger. And, today, these operational duties are still being continued by the military with the main objective of protecting the sovereignty of the nation.
As an example, somewhere in an isolated outpost in the country today, hundreds of soldiers are sleeping in wet camouflage uniforms
and boots to be ready at a moment’s notice for any security eventuality; hundreds of airmen are fighting stiffness and cramped muscles sustained over many hours to ensure that logistics and aerial support is given to front-line troops; and hundreds of seamen are patrolling the high seas in bitterly cold weather to ensure that potential maritime threats are “nipped in the bud”. Rest assured these servicemen are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that no hostile force is allowed to endanger the security of the country.
The underlying thread in all the above is the devotion to duty shown by these servicemen. No other institution can match this patriotism and loyalty!
This is directly a result of the training that all servicemen undergo, which conditions them to the deep-seated belief that the military exists to protect and defend the country. They know and accept the fact that they will always be the first ones deployed at the front lines should hostilities occur. They also accept the fact that they have to make many sacrifices, including death, so that the citizens of this country can sleep well at night. Such is this patriotism that even long after they have left the service, many veterans still adorn their medals and headgear with pride.
As a veteran myself, I feel thankful and honoured that I had the opportunity to serve in the military and was able to play my small role in making a difference in this country. Even though I’m not currently on active duty, I still find ways to loyally serve my country and its citizens. From that perspective, I, and all veterans are still serving the country — it is just that we are not in uniform.
To all those men and women in uniform today, I say thank you very, very much for the many sacrifices you are making to protect this beloved country of ours. We truly value your willingness to undergo hardship to allow all Malaysians to go about their lives in total freedom. Let me assure you that your actions and sense of duty are very much appreciated.
And what better way to honour these servicemen than by ending this article with a very appropriate quote, “I, as a veteran am not a hero, but I was privileged and honoured of being able to walk and work beside a few!”