Defence day-A celebration of bravery and unity

The 55th Defence Day of Pakistan is being celebrated today to commemorate the sacrifices of fallen heroes during the 1965 war with India. This day is not celebrated only to pay tribute to the heroes of the war but also pledge to safeguard the country’s geographical and ideological boundaries in every situation and at all costs, by being united.

This day highlights the importance of standing united as a nation in the face of any challenge. In our daily lives, we hardly take the time to appreciate the luxury and privilege of living in an independent country. This privilege is a result of countless sacrifices by our heroes. Every September 6, the nation gathers to pay warm tributes to the martyrs and ghazis who fought with valor and sacrificed their lives for the freedom and peace that we enjoy today. And while we are greatly grateful to them, we also appreciate all the people who showed their own blend of courage and selflessness and gave support and strength to these defenders from Armed Forces of Pakistan. These are their families and friends who are also not less than the national heroes.

Martyrs and fighters are the heroes that we see but there are those that support them behind their backs are just as heroic because they have to live with their loss and yet they are willing to bear it. It is not easy to carry the dead body of a child who you brought up with love and affection. The values of courage and patriotism taught by their parents make martyrs selfless and they sacrifice their lives for their country, without any hesitation. They become heroes because of the spouses, parents, siblings, children and friends who do not stand in their way of national duty but instead fuel their courage and determination with their own.

This September 6, as a nation, we need to pledge to our country that we will stand tall and united in the face of any adversity because we are a strong and proud nation. This is a day to celebrate our unity despite the diversity, and to remember that this is what makes us strong. The right message needs to be put out there for the women, youth and the children of this great nation that it is not the Armed Forces alone that fight threats but it is the whole nation that is the fighter. This does not mean that every needs to hold the gun. This means to show strength, unity and support for those who are fighting against the enemy.

It is up to us to make a resolution to use our talents and potentials in a right way to build an ideal country for our generations to come. We need to strive for a country that will be united and strong enough to make enemy think twice before keeping an eye on us.

 

by:  Abeer Arshad 

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