Lae, Morobe, Wednesday, 23 July 2025 – As the first light of dawn touched the city, a small but solemn gathering assembled outside the Old RSL Building on 2nd Street, Lae, to mark Papua New Guinea’s Remembrance Day — a moment to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served in defence of the nation.
Led by Lieutenant Colonel Valmore Kagena, Commanding Officer of the PNG Defence Force Engineering Battalion at Igam Barracks, the ceremony commemorated one of the most pivotal and painful moments in Papua New Guinea’s wartime history: the beginning of the Kokoda Trail campaign on 23 July 1942.
Despite the significance of the occasion, representatives from the National Government, Morobe Provincial Government, and Lae City Authority were notably absent. The ceremony was instead supported by representatives from PNG’s international partners, including Australian Consul-General Brenton Kanowski and Honorary Consul for New Zealand, Zoe Harrison.
Remembering Kokoda and All Who Served
In his stirring address, Lt Col Kagena paid tribute not only to the Allied soldiers who fought through unimaginable hardships during the Kokoda campaign, but also to Papua New Guinean personnel who served with distinction in the PNG Defence Force, Royal PNG Constabulary, and Correctional Services during later conflicts — from Bougainville to the Highlands, from border posts to peacekeeping operations.
“This day, eighty-three years ago, marked the grim commencement of the Kokoda Track campaign,” Lt Col Kagena said. “It was not merely another engagement; it was the beginning of a desperate struggle for survival, a battle fought on our soil.”
Honouring the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels
The Commanding Officer reserved special honour for PNG’s own wartime heroes — the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, affectionately named by Australian troops for their courage and compassion during the Kokoda campaign.
“Our own people, the brave Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels — the Ryokuin, or Green Shadows — emerged as unsung heroes,” he said. “Their selfless acts of heroism, often under fire, were indispensable to the Allied effort and stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of our nation.”
Their efforts — carrying wounded soldiers, navigating treacherous terrain, and enduring the same punishing conditions — have come to symbolise a bond of friendship and shared sacrifice between Papua New Guinea and Australia that continues to this day.
A Quiet Message to the Nation
While the ceremony was marked by respect and reflection, the absence of elected leaders underscored a sense of neglect for national memory. Yet for those who gathered, the message was clear: the responsibility to remember and to uphold the values earned through sacrifice rests with the people.
“Let us never forget the lessons learned from the horrors of war,” Lt Col Kagena urged. “Let us honour the legacy of those who served by striving for a more just, peaceful, and prosperous Papua New Guinea.”
As the bugle echoed through 2nd Street and wreaths were laid at the foot of the RSL building, those present stood not just in remembrance, but in quiet defiance — a statement that memory, dignity, and patriotism endure even in the absence of ceremony.
Lest we forget.