The Day of Remembrance is an event that is hosted every year at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. This day honours the World War II South African veterans who donated two days’ worth of their pay towards what was to become the hospital. The idea was triggered by the plight of children affected by the horrors of war and the veterans’ vision was to create a children’s hospital as a living memorial in honour of their fallen comrades.
The event took place on Friday the 8th of November in front of the hospital near the Peter Pan statue that overlooks the entrance. There were a number of speeches, prayers, and musical numbers that celebrated the sacrifice of those soldiers to make the dream of Red Cross Children’s Hospital a reality. To end off the ceremony, wreaths of flowers were laid by veterans, staff and attendees at the base of the Peter Pan statue.
Child Reporters Yusrah and Naseerah attended the event and interviewed Special Guest Speaker Trevor Manual, as well as the Deputy Mayor of Cape Town Ian Neilson, Randall Titus, Chairperson of the CHT, CHT CEO Chantel Cooper, and Medical Manager Anita Parbhoo.
[TAKE A LISTEN] to the coverage below:
