Trooping of the colour to mark day
Timoci Vula
Friday, October 07, 2011
Friday, October 07, 2011
+ Enlarge this imageMembers of the security forces during a rehearsal at Albert Park in Suva yesterday. Picture ATU RASEA
CLOSE to 400 members of the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) will perform the trooping of the colour when Fiji celebrates its 41st year of independence today.
It has been confirmed that the parade will comprise 396 men where there will be a six by 66 men detachment followed by the RFMF band. Military and naval officers have been rehearsing at Suva's Albert Park this week.
Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Neumi Leweni said the trooping of the colour was a military tradition that the RFMF had fostered tracing its origin back to when the country was ceded to the British Empire.
"This is a ceremony performed by regiments of the British and the Commonwealth armies.
"It has been a tradition of infantry regiments since the 17th century, although the roots go back much earlier," Lt-Col Leweni said.
"The Fiji Day Parade will be conducted in commemoration of Fiji's 41st year of Independence where the RFMF will be trooping the Third Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment Presidential Colours." he said.
And the government is urging all citizens to fly a Fiji flag to commemorate our independence.
"Fiji Day is the only time of the year when we remember how Fiji was given the responsibility to govern the country without external influence," Ministry of Information permanent secretary Sharon Smith-Johns said.
"Apart from the promise of just another holiday, this anniversary is about remembering our commitment to running our own affairs and it is something we should all be proud of," she said.
"We have a fine tradition of celebrating Fiji Day both locally and overseas.
"I think the best way for all of us to also celebrate Fiji Day is to reach out to those who are less fortunate than us," she said.
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