Br Hugo and bugle ‘star’ at the Remembrance Day service
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| DWU student and PNG Defence Force soldier, Corporal Ryan Manjin (right) from the a Taurama Barracks and Naval colleague, Leading seaman, Jim Beri raising the PNG and Madang flags in front of the Coast Watchers Memorial Lighthouse on Remembrance Day, July 23, 2009. | PNGDF soldiers, standing in attention during the dawn service. Behind them is Red Cross personality in Madang, Maureen Hill and her colleagues. | Br Hugo Andrew playing the “Lost Post” on his bugle. | Governor of Madang, Sir Arnold Amet and provincial administrator, Joseph Dorpar paying their respect to the fallen servicemen in front of Coast Watchers Memorial Lighthouse. |
Long-serving Divine Word University staff, Br Hugo Andrey was once again the ‘star&r21-Mar-2010one of his wind instruments – this time the bugle – last Thursday, July 23, 2009.
The jolly old Dutch missionary, so liked by many who know him, was again given the honours to play the “Last Post” in the absence of servicemen who traditionally do the job.
Br Hugo has done this in Madang for some years for the ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day dawn services and the choice appeared automatic for Peter Memafu of Melanesian Foundation and his organizing committee.
After the “Last Post” Br Hugo also played a complementary national song much to the delight of everyone present.
Br Hugo was part of a large group of DWU staff and students that attended the dawn service. Their presence was acknowledged by the governor of Madang, Sir Arnold Amet in his speech. Sir Arnold also acknowledged the presence of the neighbouring PNG Maritime College and other educational institutions.
A PNG Defence Force soldier studying at DWU, Corporal Ryan Manjin from the PNGDF Taurama Barracks led the flag raising ceremony with Naval colleague, Leading seaman, Jim Beri who is studying at the Maritime College. The dawn service was attended by a wide spectrum of the Madang public including government, institutional and business leaders and servicemen from the PNG Defence Force who lead the parade that included soldiers, Naval officers, boy scouts and girl guides. Members of the Red Cross, who are known for their work during times of war, were also present. The Red Cross group was led by long-time member and community organizer, Maureen Hill.
Papua New Guinea declared 23 July as a day dedicated to remember and respect the efforts of our fighting men and women and also our Allied friends who eventually liberated our country. This day of remembrance is similar to ANZAC Day, which is commemorated on 25th April each year in Australia and New Zealand.
The Remembrance Day also commemorates the service men and women that have laid down their lives in the course of duty for the country in later years in operations such as in the Bougainville Crisis in the late 1980s and early 1990s and during other calls of duty.
