AJMAN // In a quiet corner of the smallest emirate of the union, students and staff gathered in a school playground to plant 65 palm trees, one for each solider martyred in service of their country.
The symbolic ceremony at the Al Jurf Secondary School created a lasting tribute to the men killed in the line of duty and a sign that their sacrifices would never be forgotten, said Aisha Saeed Al Ghafli, who teaches Arabic.
“In the beginning we wanted to do something that symbolised the concept of martyrs, their virtues and their role in the minds of students,” the Emirati said. “Presently there are 65 trees and we will continue planting more.”
As well as planting the trees, the children also hung a special name plate, complete with a photograph of each martyr the palm was dedicated to.
Ms Al Ghafli said the garden would grow to honour more soldiers who may be martyred in the future, with the sandy area to eventually be covered in greenery to act as an outdoor classroom where pupils could study and reflect.
“The trees for all the martyrs who died in Yemen are completed and we want to plant for all the UAE’s martyrs, from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah. Not only those who died in Yemen, but also those who died years ago in the UAE and abroad,” the teacher said. “The students will water the trees every day during their break time until we finish putting in the drip irrigation system,” Ms Al Ghafli said. “Then we will put in the middle a flagpole with a UAE flag and a board marking the date of the garden’s opening and definition of the place.”
Aisha Ashraf, an Egyptian Grade 10 student, is among the youngsters who care for the garden each day.
“I go every day in my break time during school hours to irrigate the trees to grow them up and become lofty in order to perpetuate the heroes and their sacrifices for all generations.”
The 14-year-old said the memory of the UAE’s martyrs, who sacrificed the most valuable thing they had – their lives – would remain in the heart of all Emiratis and expatriates for ever.
Maryam Ahmad, a Syrian student in Grade 10, said that she felt proud of the martyrs who left their families behind and went to sacrifice their souls for the sake of the UAE
“The martyrs deserve more than what we have done for them, but this is the best way to retain their memory in our minds for ever,” the 15-year-old said.
Sara Osama, 15, said she felt a sense of belonging to the UAE, while hanging the photos of martyrs on the trees and watering their roots.
“I want to water the trees every day to grow up and bear dates that we will donate to needy and poor people so we and all the martyrs can get rewards from God,” the Grade 10 pupil said.
roueiti@thenational.ae
› On the UAE’s first Commemoration Day we honour the sacrifice of our fallen brothers. Click on the image below to enlarge: