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| Sunday, 2 November 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Annual Service of Thanksgiving for Thomian Armed forces... Thomians salute sons of the college who sacrificed lives for our tomorrows
This Service will be followed by a Memorial Ceremony at the War Memorial Monument at the Big Club Grounds of S. Thomas' College. This event which is organised by the Special Events Team of the Old Boy's Association, who together with the College, brings together a large section of the Thomian community. The Event brings together in a very solemn and ceremonial manner, the full richness of the talents of the Thomian schoolboys as the College Prefects, the Choir, the Cadet Platoon, the Hewisi Band, the Western Band and the Scouts combine with the Army Band to create a moving and memorable event. S. Thomas's College has had a very old tradition of military contribution to the Nation. Initially this invaluable service was to the British Empire with 67 Thomians sacrificing their lives during World War 1: 6 of them during World War 2 - and that too mostly as pilots of the British Royal Air Force and latterly in the Eelam conflicts in Sri Lanka where S. Thomas College has given of her best who have laid down their lives for our country. S. Thomas College also has a unique and proud distinction of having won one of the world's best known medals for exceptional gallantry - the Victoria Cross of the Britain. This award was made posthumously to Lt Basil Horsefall. This is the only time that a Ceylonese has ever won that medal and is one of a number of 1370 that have been awarded from around 1875 to date. Sons of STC have contributed very significantly towards independent SriLanka's own armed forces. The College has produced a number of former commanders of the Armed Forces and Police. At present, Thomians in senior command positions include Air Marshall Donald Perera, Commander of the Air Force, Mjr General Lohan Gunawardena, Chief of Staff of the Army, Air Vice Marshall Laksan Salgado, Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Mjr General Shantha Kottegoda, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army. General Ranjan Wijeratne and at present Mr. Thilak Marapone have held/are holding Cabinet appointments relating to Defence. The objectives of this Special Event are to make sure that the sacrifices made for our Motherland are not forgotten and that as a Thomian family that on Remembrance Day, that Thomians salute sons of the College who gave their lives for our tomorrows. This event also serves to bring all serving Thomians back to the core of STC which irrespective of multi-religious background, is the Chapel of the Transfiguration. A service of Thanksgiving for their special job roles is followed by prayer for those missing in action and not only for the families of all Thomian service personnel affected by the war, but for all families of those affected by war and violence in Sri Lanka. The solemn service in the Chapel is followed by a Memorial Ceremony at the War Heroes Monument at STC. The present Monument also installed by the Special Events Team is unique in that it blends with the character of what S. Thomas' College stands for and aspires to always be. The new Monument which was installed a few years ago, stands on the original war memorial dedicated to those who died in World War 1, which is the Big Club Grounds of the College. This is in keeping with the thinking that high standards of honour, integrity and courage are inculcated in the playing fields of S. Thomas College - which is perhaps testimony to the fact that most of those who are currently Missing or Killed in Action were outstanding Thomian schoolboy sportsmen ...... and the event on the 2nd of November is to salute these sons of Lanka because S. Thomas's College has promised that "after the going down of the sun and in the morning" ....... that We Will Remember Them. |
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News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
The 6th annual Service of Thanksgiving, Intercession and Remembrance
for those currently serving, those missing and those killed in action will
take place at the Chapel of The Transfiguration on November 2, at 5.00
p.m.
