Manama : On behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Deputy King, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, today attended the Commemoration Day ceremony, held under HRH’s patronage at the Al-Sakhir Palace today.
Upon arrival, His Royal Highness, who was accompanied by a convoy of cavalry, was welcomed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, National Guard Commander, General HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, and the Commander of the Royal Guard Special Force, His Highness Staff Colonel Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, in addition to senior officials, senior officers, and families of fallen servicemen.
The Deputy King headed to the main platform, and the National Anthem was played on the occasion of the Commemoration Day.
Verses from the Holy Quran were recited, the artillery fired one shot, a minute of silence was observed, and then a second artillery shot was fired.
A musical band played the “Last Return” melody, which ended with a flypast by a fighter jet squadron from the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF), in tribute to the fallen servicemen.
The Court of Cassation’s Sharia Department Chairman and Al-Fateh Mosque Imam, Shaikh Adnan bin Abdulla Al-Qattan, delivered a speech, paying homage to the fallen heroes, and offering prayers for them.
Shaikh Adnan bin Abdulla thanked HM King Hamad for designating the 17th of December as Commemoration Day, in recognition of the sacrifices made by fallen servicemen, who lost their lives while performing their patriotic duties. The National Guard Commander advanced to the head of the column where he saluted His Royal Highness the Deputy King.
Shaikh Adnan bin Abdulla prayed for further health and prosperity for His Majesty the King, as well as continued success for His Royal Highness to achieve the Royal aspirations to bring about further development which will benefit the Kingdom and its citizens.
After that, the Royal Protocols Chief requested His Royal Highness to water the palm tree, a symbol of eternal life.
Finally, the National Anthem was played, signalling the conclusion of the commemorative event.
His Royal Highness affirmed the importance of Commemoration Day as a solemn occasion recognising the contributions of fallen servicemen since the establishment of the modern state of Bahrain.
The Deputy King noted that fallen servicemen embody the highest value of bravery and are a source of pride for Bahrain for generations to come.
HRH emphasised the significance of the 17th of December as a pivotal national commemoration each year, under the leadership of His Majesty the King the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. This day honours Bahraini servicemen who sacrificed their lives, whether within Bahrain or abroad, in defence of the values of righteousness and fairness, while upholding national security and sovereignty, and combatting terrorism.
His Royal Highness saluted members of the armed forces and security authorities for their unwavering commitment to serving the Kingdom and its people with courage and valour.
HRH the Deputy King affirmed that every fallen serviceman is a national hero, noting that their heroic actions will remain engraved in the national memory.
His Royal Highness indicated that the families of the fallen servicemen are as heroic as their sons who fell in the line of duty, citing their patriotism, and commitment to instil the love for the Kingdom in the minds and hearts of their children.
The Deputy King commended Bahraini citizens for their admirable attitudes, unity, and dedication in supporting the families of the deceased servicemen, demonstrating the cohesion of Bahrain’s society, where every fallen serviceman is cherished as the son of every Bahraini and all are a part of one family.
His Royal Highness was accompanied by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa bin Salman Education Charitable Trust and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and His Highness Major Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
