Our troops in the Solomon Islands yesterday (Tuesday 21 December) renovated and repainted the War Veterans Memorial Cemetery where five Fiji Military Forces soldiers lay at rest. The five were killed during the battle for Guadalcanal in the Second World War.
Despite the cloudy conditions, the work that started two weeks ago to commemorate Sappers Day was finally done through the hard work of Corporal Etika Rokovesa from the Engineers Corps and his team. A scarlet red paint was used to design a red diamond on a forest green background to reflect the fallen soldiersβ distinctive unit insignia of the βAi Mataiβ or the 1st Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment.
Warrant Officer Class Two Tomasi Delana said the repainting of the cemetery was made possible through the kind donation and assistance of the Fijian community in the Solomons. These include Mr Praneel Vikash the manager of APCO paints, Mr Aporosa Draunibaka manager ANZ Bank and businessman Mr Iliatia Kativerata. Mr Delana said the Task Force βCori Madaβ Command team was grateful for the patriotism and kindness shown to our fallen heroes.
Later in the evening, the ladies from the Fijian community presented bails of clothes as βπ²πΆπ΄πͺ π―πͺ π£πΆπ―π°β a traditional appreciation ceremony to thank the troops for the work. The ceremony coincided with the farewell of thirty-four members of βππ’π΄π¬ ππ°π³π€π¦ ππ°π³πͺ ππ’π₯π’β who will be returning to Fiji this afternoon in time for Christmas.
The remaining troops will continue with their tasking as delegated by the Solomon International Assisting Force.
The five soldiers buried at the memorial were 4205 Private Akalio Kedrati (20 years old), War 993 Private Harry Levy (25 years old), 4188 Private Luke Delana (21 years old), 13176 Private Tevita Rabo (22 years old), and 588 Private Nacanieli Rusalaba (27 years old). The sixth grave in the cemetery is that of the late Senior Pastor Panapasa Rasara Balekana, a Fijian born Solomon Island musician and composer who later composed the Solomon Island national anthem. The late Pastorsβ son Mr Atueta Balekana is currently the Honorary Consul of the Fiji Government in the Solomon Islands.
The War Veterans Memorial was officially opened on 23rd July 2004 and constructed by the efforts of the RFMF Contingent II (RAMSI), the Fiji Police Contingent (RAMSI), the combined Joint Task Force 635 (RAMSI) together with the Honiara Fijian Community and the Honiara business community.
