They spend weeks away from their families, out in the bush, and off grid walking the borderline. And so today's annual BDF Christmas luncheon was not just nourishment for the body, but also the spirit, as they received a thank you for all that they do as soldiers.
Jomarie Lanza was at the event at Price Barracks:
Our heroes who stand guard by day and night, sat down for a Christmas meal today with their Ministry of Defence family, where a total of 800 BDF soldiers were served. Their CEO says that other camps in other districts will have their Christmas luncheon as well in the days to come.
Francis Usher, CEO, Ministry of Defense
"As you know It is the season to give thanks. It is a season to be grateful for all the work that has been done throughout the year, all of the road work and no one works harder than our soldiers and sailors, it is truly service above self, day in and day out. When people go home and rest, the soldiers are always on duty and always protecting our country. So it is the least we can do to show them our appreciation for all they have done throughout the year."
"We have our various luncheons around all the different camps so on Tuesday we had a luncheon at Fairweather camp in Punta Gorda, yesterday we had a luncheon at Isles camp in Orange walk. Today is the main base, Price Barracks the headquarters of the BDF and tomorrow we have the Christmas luncheon at Belizario camp in Cayo."
Their Minister of Defence says the luncheon is a great military tradition of theirs, one he takes pride in attending each year.
Florencio Marin, Minister of Defense
"What you are seeing is, like I said, a long standing tradition - us giving thanks. The military is big on giving gratitude to those who serve because remember these are the ones who perhaps work the hardest throughout the country. What I mean by that is that when they are on patrol they are out there 24/7, sometimes weeks on end, most other works you go in the morning and come home in the evening and you have your weekends. Not with the military. You know when you are on patrol when you are on duties you are on full time."
The Prime Minister also stopped in to greet some of the soldiers and officers to express his gratitude for their continued service.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"This is a tradition that the BDF has had for a long time that they have a Christmas dinner, a lunch together all of them from my end apparently no Prime Minister has ever been doing that. But to me I find that it is the least that I can do to be able to show some form of appreciation for what they do for us all year round. Many of our BDF members are unsung heroes they do a lot of things out there in the jungle protecting us and they never get recognized for that work so I think the least I can do is be here, break bread as they say just before the Christmas and in many instances I serve food along with the other officers."
