President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) led a ceremony to mark National Heroes' Day at the Heroes Monument, erected to commemorate the November 10, 1945, battle, in Surabaya, East Java, on Tuesday. 

"To honor and laud the services of the heroes who have fallen before us, let us observe a moment of silence," President Jokowi remarked.

In the ceremony, President Jokowi, who was present with First Lady Iriana, was accompanied by Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa, East Java Governor Soekarwo, National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti, and several working cabinet ministers.

Also present were dozens of fighters who joined the legion of veterans and the families of veteran and pioneers of Indonesian independence, and thousands of junior and senior high school students in Surabaya.

Earlier, East Java Governor Soekarwo said Jokowi's readiness to lead the ceremony was the right decision, and the people in East Java province, especially in Surabaya, had been awaiting it since long.

"This is the first time that the country's president will lead the ceremony in Surabaya. Thank God, the central government has approved the holding of the ceremony here, and we highly laud it," the governor pointed out.

The Indonesian Veterans Legion (LVRI) has welcomed Jokowi's readiness to be present at the ceremony.

"Surabaya was the site of the November 10, 1945, battle and that is the reason why it is called the Heroes City. We think it is appropriate for the ceremony to be led by the countrys leader," Hartoyik, the head of LVRI Surabaya chapter, stated.

The Heroes' Day ceremony has never been held in Surabaya, which is the original location of the battle, later commemorated as the National Heroes Day

Source: ANTARA