Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA) - Research and Technology and Higher Education Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro has encouraged young Indonesians to keep the spirit of National Heroes Day alive in the hearts and minds by harnessing the spirit of innovation.

"The spirit of our National Heroes Day must be filled by all children of the nation with the spirit of innovation," he said at a commemorative event of the National Heroes Day in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday.

Bambang Brodjonegoro became the ceremonial inspector of this years's commemoration of the National Heroes Day, which was held at the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, one of Indonesia's centers of excellence.

According to Brodjonegoro, anybody is able to become heroes of today's era as long as they have concrete actions for strengthening the unity and integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

They do good deeds for the nation by, for instance, helping those affected by catastrophes; not provoking others to do wrongdoings; not proliferating fake news; and not becoming anarchists.

Therefore, becoming today's heroes is how to love the nation concretely by having achievements that make Indonesia get honored at international level or sincerely working for the interests of the people at large.

Regarding this year's National Heroes Day, President Joko Widodo led a commemorative event at the Kalibata National Heroes Memorial Park in South Jakarta to honor Indonesia's fallen heroes.

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, along with several members of the Indonesian Onward Cabinet and top government officials, joined the president at the commemorative event.

President Jokowi laid a wreath of flowers at the memorial park's monument, and prayed for the fallen heroes. Religious Affairs Minister Fahcrul Razi recited prayers at the end of the commemorative event.

The National Heroes Day is commemorated to honor those falling in the heroic Battle of Surabaya, East Java, on November 10, 1945.

As part of the government's annual programs for commemorating the National Heroes Day, President Joko Widodo granted the national hero titles to six figures.

The six figures are Ruhana Kudus from West Sumatra, Sultan Himayatuddin Oputa Yii Ko from Southeast Sulawesi, Prof. M. Sardjito from Yogyakarta, Abdoel Kahar Moezakir from Yogyakarta, Alexander Andries (AA) Maramis from North Sulawesi, and KH Masykur from East Java.

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Translator: M Zulfikar, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
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