VP Gibran chairs ceremony of National Heroes Day at Kalibata cemetery

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka presided over a ceremony to commemorate the 2024 National Heroes Day at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta on Sunday.

Arriving at the cemetery at 7:50 a.m. local time, the vice president received a welcome from Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf.

The ceremony, commanded by Colonel Lucky Indrawan from the Indonesia  Air Force, began with a call for paying respect to all fallen heroes.

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A siren then rang for a minute as participants of the ceremony reflected on the Battle of Surabaya that broke out on November 10, 1945.

Thereafter, Vice President Gibran, as the inspector of the ceremony, initiated a minute of silence.

"A minute of silence begins," he said.

Furthermore, the VP laid a wreath before participating in the recital of prayers to the souls of the heroes, led by Director General of Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Kamaruddin Amin.

Colonel Indrawan then led the participants to once again pay respect to the fallen heroes.

Afterwards, VP Gibran, along with ministers, deputy ministers, and state institution leaders, joined a flower-sowing procession at the graves of national heroes and figures, including the 3rd president B. J. Habibie, the 3rd VP Adam Malik, the 4th VP Umar Wirahadikusumah, and the 5th VP Soedharmono.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Budi Gunawan, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai, Transmigration Minister Iftitah Sulaiman, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, Cooperatives Minister Budi Arie Setiadi, and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono were among those attending the ceremony.

Also present during the ceremony were State Intelligence Agency Head M. Herindra, Deputy Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Veronica Tan, Trade Deputy Minister Dyah Roro Esti, Culture Deputy Minister Giring Ganesha, and Deputy Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions Ariza Patria.