President Yudhoyono Leads National Heroes Day Ceremony

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono led a national ceremony held to commemorate the National Heroes Day at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery here on Sunday morning. Accompanied by First Lady Mrs Ani Yudhoyono, the President arrived in the cemetery at 7:55 a.m and was welcomed by the minister of social affairs. The President and wife who were then accompanied by Vice President Boediono and Mrs Herawati Boediono walked to the Kalibata Plaza where the ceremony was held in the premise of the cemetery. At 8:10 a.m the ceremony was started with President Yudhoyono who acted as the ceremony inspector, receiving a report from the ceremony commandant, Col Edwin. It was followed with a siren for one minute to observe the 10 November 1945 battle event in Surabaya, East Java. After observing a moment of silence for the spirits of the heroes who sacrificed their souls for the country's independence, the President laid wreath carrying a ribbon reading " Tribute to You Heroes" at the Heroes Monument. The national ceremony was ended with flower scattering on the graves of former vice president Adam Malik, wife of Adam Malik Nelly Adam Malik and revolutionary heroes Sutojo Siswomihardjo, S Parman, MT Haryono, Suprato, and Ahmad Yani. The ceremony was also attended by, among others, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affiars Djoko Suyanto, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik, Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi and the family members and relatives of the heroes.(*) (A014/A. Abdussalam)