Emiratis attend inauguration of Commemoration Day monument

Commemoration Day affords Emiratis a chance to honour soldiers who died.

Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah at the inauguration ceremony on Monday of the Martyrs’ Monument. Satish Kumar / The National

SHARJAH // Emiratis turned out in large numbers to pay their respects at the unveiling of a monument dedicated to the martyrs of the emirate, and the country.

Abdullah Al Tenaiji watched the inauguration of the monument to mark the first Commemoration Day on Monday in honour of the UAE’s fallen soldiers as a mark of respect for his cousin Hassan Mohammed Hassan Al Tenaiji, who died in Yemen while serving with coalition forces.

“It’s a day of pride for us, our brothers have sacrificed their lives to defend this great country,” said the Al Dhaid resident.

“We have this monument as a reminder to Emiratis and the rest of the world to show that we were there to aid our brothers in Yemen.”

Hamdan Salem said Commemoration Day was a sad, but also proud, occasion. “Our soldiers have died to defend our country, there is nothing we can do to pay them back except to pray for their souls and remember the sacrifice they made,” said the 24-year-old Emirati.

Umm Mohammed visited the monument with her children to help show them the true meaning of sacrifice and martyrdom in defence of their country.

“This is the first martyrs day, it’s a sad occasion and a day of pride. I am here with my children to pay tribute to our brothers who died in Yemen and elsewhere defending our country,” said the mother of four.

Her children, Mohammed, 12, and his brother Abdulaziz, 3, were dressed in traditional white kanduras while their sisters, Fatima, 10, and Noora, 9, wore army uniforms.

Umm Mohammed said that Commemoration Day was an important occasion. “It’s great to have a dedicated day to remember our fallen soldiers. Families should bring their children to this monument and teach them what these great heroes have done for this country,” said the Sharjah resident.

Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the monument near the Sharjah Centre for Space Sciences and Astronomy.

Standing 10 metres high, the monument is split into eight levels with the Quranic verse “Do not imagine those killed in the path of God to be dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, Enjoying His bounty” running across each. The area around the monument features two fountains and green areas.

As part of Commemoration Day, staff at Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services observed a minute’s silence at 11.30am and raised the UAE flag.

Students and faculty members at the American University of Sharjah also paid their respects with a minute’s silence and flag-raising ceremony, as did employees at Al Hamriyah Municipality and Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority.