Government will be hosting a commemorative service to mark the centenary of World War I (WW1) and to specifically honour the Fiji Labour Corps and the First Fiji Reinforcement.  The service will be held at the National War Memorial at Veiuto, Suva, today, May 19.

The Permanent Secretary for Defence, Osea Cawaru, said the service was part of a series of commemorative services that Government planned to organise through to 2018.

A commemorative service was held last December 2014 to honour the first Fijian Contingent.

In addition to the service today, another service will be organised for July 16, to specifically honour the Second and Third Contingents and Second and Third Reinforcements.

Other events for the next three years will be announced in due course.

Mr Cawaru said Government had an obligation to remember the servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives during the war.

“They participated in the great war to bring peace. Fiji, as a nation, needs to remember those who died during the war as well as the survivors,” Mr Cawaru said.

The President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, will lead the service in addition to the descendants of those who participated in the war. Members of the Diplomatic Corps have been invited to the service.

Guests are invited to be at the National War Memorial before 9.30am.  Relatives, family and friends of ex-servicemen and women are advised that buses will pick them up from Nausori Town starting at 8.30am today.

One bus will travel via the Kings Highway while another via Princes Road (Tamavua).  The buses will drop guests at Nausori Town after the service.

For further clarification, contact Joji Dumukoro on 9905578 or landline 3211245 during office hours or email [email protected].

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