Dressed in full black formal attire, the president arrived at the cemetery at midnight on Sunday, August 17, and immediately commenced the ceremony. He proceeded to the main monument and laid a wreath.
Presiding over the reflection night, President Prabowo led the troops and participants in a minute of silence to honor and pray for the national heroes.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let us take a moment to remember our national heroes who sacrificed their lives for the independence and sovereignty of the Indonesian nation," the president said while leading the silence.
Afterward, the president gave his salute to the national heroes.
The ceremony then concluded, and he departed from the cemetery.
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Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka also attended the reflection night, along with State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf, and Deputy Minister Agus Jabo Priyono.
Indonesian military commander General Agus Subiyanto and police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo were also present.
This year’s ceremony took a notably simpler format compared to 2024, when President Joko Widodo presided over a more elaborate reflection night with a presidential statement, oath to national heroes, and prayers led by the minister of religious affairs.
In 2024, the reflection night was held in two locations: President Joko Widodo at Nusantara City's Kusuma Bangsa Park, and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: M Razi Rahman
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
