The fighters had sacrificed until the last drop of their blood for true independence (of Indonesia)—which was not a gift from anyone, but the blessing and grace of God Almighty.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - National Heroes' Day commemoration should be a momentum to learn from the heroes’ fighting spirit and sincerity to unite and advance Indonesia, secretary of the Youth and Sports Ministry, Gunawan Suswantoro, said on Thursday.

"On this National Heroes’ Day, let’s offer the best prayers for all the nation's heroes who died on the battlefield. Let’s remember the struggle of the nation's heroes," he remarked at a commemoration ceremony here on Thursday.

The heroes worked hand-in-hand with the community in the struggle for independence, he said.

"The heroes fully believed that the future of their children and grandchildren was worth fighting for. The fighters had sacrificed until the last drop of their blood for true independence (of Indonesia)—which was not a gift from anyone, but the blessing and grace of God Almighty," he remarked.

He emphasized that the nation's heroes taught that any threats and challenges—no matter how big —have to be faced.

"From Aceh to Papua, we can see that people’s spirit to recover (from the pandemic) is rising,” he said.

The real challenge for youngsters is to manage Indonesia's extraordinary natural wealth to advance the nation, he added.

He said he expects all future generations to emulate the spirit of the heroes, in line with the theme of National Heroes' Day 2022, namely “My Hero, My Example.”

"Let's bolster (social) prosperity and become national heroes in the future," Suswantoro remarked.

He said he expected the commemoration of National Heroes' Day to be a momentum to strengthen the unity and integrity of the nation as well as respect for each other.

He also appealed to the community to mark Indonesia’s independence positively by becoming a hero for themselves, their families, as well as their environment.

"Make the spirit and values of heroism as an inspiration in every step of our lives. Happy National Heroes' Day 2022," he added.

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Translator: Muhammad Ramdan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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