BY ELIZABETH MENGISTU
“The burden he carries to let you cross the bridge of pain is tougher than the life sacrifices he pays to save you. In pitch darkness, in dense forests and deep gorges in a condition you cannot see them if they even try to poke your eyes out, it is the Defense Force that sacrifices his life to make you sleep comfortably and work securely.
By beating the enemies who are attempting to disrupt your peaceful life and imperiling your safety targeting to snatch your life through invading the border and attacking the country, it is the army who is defending you.
It is the Defense Force who faces and thwarts the enemies that exert utmost effort to wage war against you, disturb your peace in the middle of the night from the bed you fell asleep restfully.
Without being defeated by the rain and the cold, the total darkness, as well as the bumpy landscape, it is the Defense Force who is protecting you from enemies, defending your peace, security, safety, risking his life and paying the ultimate sacrifice.
And for this very reason, if you bow down and kiss his knees, wash his feet, feed him with your hands, hug him when he is tired, support him when he is exhausted, weep for him when he is sick, if you donate your blood, if you say him “After You” in queue and if you give him honey and milk when he is thirsty, rather than lifting up your eminence and prestige above the horizon, you will not level down.
Because what he is doing for you is much more than what you are doing for yourself, love him as yourself. Do not be among those who insult, criticize, and hate him. Stand always by the side of the Defense Force. Feel his pain, let his death be your death and always aspire his eminence; because no one who glorifies Ethiopia is dishonored. Glory be to the National Defense Forces of Ethiopia.”
The above statement was taken from the social page of Suleiman Abdella, Middle East Media Monitoring and Political Activist.
Without a doubt, every single word carries a truth about the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and those heroes and heroines who are paying the ultimate sacrifice to defend their country and protect their fellow citizens from enemies.
Their prime purpose and utmost priorities is always their country and the people. Being at the frontline, strive to protect Ethiopia and Ethiopians from internal and external threats and maintain peace and security.
Because the Defense Forces are the essence of their peaceful existence, Ethiopians always give greater respect for the forces, value their loyalty and selflessness, and show their solidarity and togetherness in all aspects. Aside from donating blood to financial and in-kind assistances, the people are, showing their intimacy to the invincible defense forces by bringing foods and drinks in the spots.
Recently, following the celebration of the New Ethiopian Year, Ethiopians have strengthened their assistance to the army. Recently, the Sidama State and South West Ethiopia People’s State donated oxen and in-kind support worth 25.6 million Birr to the heroic National Defense Force, the FDRE Defense Force reported in its social page.
Handing over the support, Ashenafi Elias said representing the State, Ethiopia will not fall apart while Ethiopians are alive. “The government and the people of Sidama State will stand by the side of the National Defense and the joint forces that are defending the war that the T-TPLF group has waged against us.”
As to him, the support that they have given now is just to show their togetherness; and ensure that the brave Defense Forces and the joint Forces can spend the New Year happily. He also vowed to continue their support.
Handing over in-kind and oxen worth l24.3 million Birr to representative of ENDF’s, Belay Tessema, South West Ethiopia Peoples’ State Government representative, on his part said that the support will continue until Ethiopia’s sovereignty is respected and ensured.
Receiving the support, Marta Luigi, Defense State Minister on behalf of herself and the Ministry of Defense thanked states for their actions they have put together in a short period of time for our army and the joint forces, which are fighting in the front line to protect the sovereignty of the country
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2022
