Once again, we remember the unforgettable contribution of our bravehearts, who sacrificed their lives for the sake of their country. With their sacrifice, the valiant sons of the motherland have passed into immortality.

They went, they ‘fell upon the thorns’ of the battlefield, they got bruised, and they bled for us. Only for us.

And they said goodbye to our universe only to enter the high world of martyrdom. In that world piety dwells forever. There dwell those who have sacrificed their whole beings for nations and causes.

As President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan says,  these sacrifices are “medals of pride” that will adorn “our chests and those of our children and grandchildren.”

The nation’s martyrs are like “beacons that illuminate the way, as we create the next 50 years. The 30th of November is a national occasion that upholds the values of sacrifice and redemption, and it is a day of pride and glory.

“Throughout time, martyrdom has been and will remain the culmination of daring, the summit of sacrifice, the most prestigious of honours, the highest levels of expression of loyalty and belonging to the nation.

“We will always remember as people and leadership, with appreciation and gratitude, our children who sacrificed their lives in the fields of the truth and duty, the fields of redemption; in defence of the nation, in preservation of its sovereignty, and in protection of its achievements. They kept the UAE flag flying high as a symbol of strength, pride and resilience.”

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, said that UAE martyrs will remain alive and fresh in the memory of generations to come and in the conscience of the UAE people.

“We thank Allah Almighty for blessing us with valiant men and women who have lived up to their promises to this nation. We commemorate today their children who responded to their call of duty, fought and died while defending our country, its dignity, sovereignty and independence.

“We are gathering today, the leadership and people, to commemorate our martyrs, and we are confident that their achievements will remain indelible in the annals of history. They are present in every achievement, every success, and every victory we are achieving. They are alive in the conscience of every Emirati, driving them to serve our country with loyalty and devotion.”

The passage of years increases the glory of UAE martyrs because they are timeless symbols of patriotism that adorn our history with glory and pride, said His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The nation’s martyrs “are like the stars that illuminate our present and future with the noblest values and meanings and urge us to give more for the sake of the homeland.”

“They sacrificed their lives in the field of bravery and honour in the UAE and overseas, thus performing the greatest heroism and sacrifices in history.

“Our martyrs carried the UAE in their hearts and minds, and sacrificed their lives for the sake of its pride and sovereignty and the dignity of its people, without hesitation, because to them the UAE was dearer than anything else, even their own lives.”

The UAE will always stride towards spectacular progress and leadership, owing to the love and loyalty of its children.

The martyrs have given the country a deeper meaning in the people’s hearts. They laid down their lives to keep us alive. Can we match that act of sacrifice? Never.