Ahead Of Feb. 11 Armed Forces Day Celebrations
PHOTO: Deputy AFL COS in conversation with COS Maj. Gen Johnson
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
As a part of activities marking the observance 66th anniversary of the Armed Forces Day, the high command of the Armed Forces of Liberia has embarked on engagement with vulnerable groups in order to maintain and sustain the peace and tranquility in the pre and post election era in the country.
AFL Chief of Staff, Major General Prince C. Johnson, III named the vulnerable groups as the youths, students, the motorcycle and tricycle riders because they are often misused to create violence and political unrest during the electoral era.
Major General Johnson made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen when he led top brass, officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia on a massive cleaning exercise at the Junction of Duport Road in Paynesville.
According to him, the AFL as a member of joint security in Liberia, will also engage stakeholders in the elections on the need to maintain and sustain peace in the country.
The AFL Chief of staff explained that this engagement is necessary in order to bridge the gap between the joint security and these vulnerable groups especially on issues of national concern.
As the cleaning up exercise by the soldiers was going on at Duport Road in Monrovia’s Paynesville suburb, a medical unit of the AFL rendered medication to the public free of charge to residents at the Po River area and its surroundings. Additionally,a mini sport tournament involving teams from Joint Security, the Lone Star MTN, the Federation of Liberian Youths, the Liberia National Student Unionand the Federation of Motorcycle and Tricycle Union took place at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex.
The celebrations of the 66th Armed Forces Day began last Friday, 03 Feb 23 with an Islamic prayer service at the Mosques located at the Edward Beyan Kesselly Military Barracks. In continuation of religious activities surrounding this year Armed Forces Day, a thanksgiving service was also held on Sunday, 05 Feb 23, at the International Military Baptist Church at the Edward Beyan Kesselly Military Barracks.
On Tuesday, there will be a symposium at the Monrovia City Hall where theResident Representative of the United Nations Development Program, Stephen Rodriguez, will deliver keynote speech.
During the symposium, the chairmen of the senate and the house committees on Defense, Security, Intelligence and Veteran Affairsof the Liberian Senate and House of Representatives, and several personalities will serve as panelists.
Two days later, the celebration will continue with the display of various professional units of the Armed Forces of Liberia to students from various high in Monrovia and it’s environ.
During the military professional units display, the Chief of Staff of the AFL, Major General Prince C. Johnson, III, has promised to offer his office to a student for a brief moment, symbolically handing over the command of the Liberian army. This is intended to give a feel of authority and leadership to the student that will be selected.
On Saturday, February 11, 2023,the official celebration will take place at the Barclay Training Center and the keynote speaker is Maj. Gen Pablo Estrada, Commanding General of the 46th Military Police Command Lansing Michigan.
The President of Liberia and Commander-In-Chief of the AFL, H. E. GeorgeM. Weah, is expected to grace the occasion where he will deliver a special statement to be followed by pass in review and parade through the principal streets in Monrovia.
Prior to pass in review, two retired officers Retired Colonel Washington Bowier, former Commander of the Air Wing Unit of the AFL and Retired Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Nah also of the Air Wing Unit of the AFL will be honored as recipients of Distinguish Service Order.
The 66th Armed Forces Day celebration will be held under the theme: “Inter Agency Collaboration: Working Together for Peaceful Elections while the symposium will be held under the topic:“Fostering Effective Stakeholder Engagement for Sustainable Democracy.”