During those days, the regular Army then called the Liberian Frontier Force (LFF), used to combine with units of the national militia to have joint parade on special occasions, such as Independence Day, Inauguration Day, etc. However, in 1954, the late Colonel Francis M. Dean, then Assistant Chief of Staff (G-2), recommended in his annual report to the Defense authority that a day be set aside by an act of the National Legislature to be styled and known as “Old Soldier Army Festival” a day on which units of the Liberian Armed Forces throughout the nation would assemble at their respective headquarters to jointly participate in field ceremonies of parades and other planned military exercises.
Colonel Dean’s recommendation traveled through the necessary chain of command until it successfully reached the official desk of the late Commander-In-Chief, President William V.S. Tubman who, in turn, approved and submitted it to the lawmakers for legislative consideration.
How February 11 Was Chosen As Armed Forces Day
When the Liberian legislature met in session to consider colonel Dean’s recommendation for legislative enactment, it was suggested that choosing any month and date to be set aside as Army Festival would be inappropriate.
Instead, a month and date with some historical events in which a member or members of the Armed Forces had performed some marvelous deeds in the supreme interest of the nation (Liberia) and its people.
By so doing, members of the incoming generations of the Armed Forces would continue to celebrate this day under appropriate military exercises in honor and remembrance of the heroic deeds of their comrades in arms. Moreover, this suggestion was embraced with popular support. However, the only event that could quickly come to the minds of the lawmakers was the month and date of the Major Mckay Cadell incidence in 1909.
Major Cadell was the first commandant of the Liberian Frontier Force who carried on mutiny action against the Liberian Government during President Arthur Barclay’s administration, that aggression of Cadell was repelled by the first militia regiment headed by Ltc. Isaac Moart and his deputy Major.
Joseph Dennis in 1909 having reached a unanimous consensus on the month and date of Major Cadell’s event, of February 25 1955, an act of Legislature was passed, declaring May 9 of each year as Armed Forces Day with a proclamation that it should be officially observed throughout Liberia as a National holiday. When the Act was proclaimed on May 9 as the month and date of the Major Cadell’s incidence, historians everywhere disagreed and argued that the incidence occurred on February 9, 1909. This argument in turn created a demand for legislative amendment.
Consequently, on March 22, 1956, amendment was made, deleting May 9 and inserting February 9 in the Act as Armed Forces Day. Less than a year after the amendment was made, some survivors of the Major Cadell’s incidence declared that it was February 11, 1909.
Once more and finally, on January 26, 1957, the appropriate rectification was made in the Act. Major Cadell was a British officer brought to Liberia from Sierra Leone to command the Liberian Frontier Force, and with him were some Sierra Leonean soldiers whom he incited against the Liberian Government for salary arrears.
The Liberian Frontier Force thwarted their mutiny action and they were given twenty-four hours to leave Liberia. The current site of the Executive Mansion was the location of the Military Barracks named and styled “Camp Johnson”. Today, a new 2000-strong AFL is being built under the auspices of the Security Sector Reform (SSR) program.
DynCorp International is training this new 2000-strong regimented and law-abiding AFL with support from the United States Government.
Note- The Armed Forces of Liberia is 100 years, (1908-2008) and this celebration of Armed Forces Day marks the 51st observance of the day since 1957.
Saintes, Charente-Maritime
Saintes is a French commune and historic town, a subprefecture in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France. It is in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It is also the capital of the "arrondissement" of Saintes.
Before the French Revolution, Saintes was the capital of the old province of Saintonge.
Saintes is in the central eastern part of the Charente-Maritime department, in the old province of Saintonge, along the Charente river that flows through the "commune" from south to north.
The "commune" has an area of , and its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .
The distances from Saintes to other cities are:
The "commune" of Saintes is surrounded by the "communes":
The climate of Saintes, in the Köppen climate classification, is Cfb - Oceanic climate with template summers.
The inhabitants of this city are known, in French, as "Saintais" (women: "Saintaises").
With a population of 25,149, Saintes has a population density of inhabitants/km.
Evolution of the population in Saintes
Saintes is a subprefecture of the Charente-Maritime department, the capital of the "arrondissement" of Saintes and the administrative centre () of the canton of Saintes.
It is part of the intercommunality "CA Saintes" ().
Saintes is twinned with:
Charles C. McDonald
General Charles Clarence McDonald (October 1, 1933 – November 22, 2017) was a United States Air Force general. He served as Commander, Air Force Logistics Command (COMAFLC) from 1989 to 1992.
From August 1979 to February 1981 McDonald was commander of the 320th Bombardment Wing, Mather Air Force Base, California. Under his command the wing won the Fairchild Trophy, awarded to the top bomber wing in the Strategic Air Command for combined bombing and navigational excellence.
He was promoted to general November 1, 1989, with same date of rank, and retired June 30, 1992.
McDonald died on November 22, 2017 in Niceville, Florida of ALS-related complications at the age of 84.
Stephen Knapp
Stephen Knapp (October 15, 1947November 24, 2017) was an American artist. He was best known for his use of the medium of lightpainting. He created an international reputation for large-scale works of art held in museums, public, corporate, and private collections, which are executed in media as diverse as light, kiln-formed glass, metal, stone, mosaic, and ceramic.
Knapp died in Worcester, Massachusetts on November 24, 2017 of complications from acute myeloid leukemia at the age of 70.
Aminul Islam (academic)
Aminul Islam (1 January 1935 – 29 November 2017) was a Bangladeshi academic. He was the president of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. He was a fellow of the academy since 1978.
Surin Pitsuwan
Surin Pitsuwan (; ; 28 October 1949 – 30 November 2017) was a Thai politician and diplomat. He served as the 12th Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from 2008 to 2012. He was also the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Thailand from 1997 to 2001.
Pitsuwan was born in Nakhon Si Thammarat. He was a Thai Malay. He studied at Thammasat University.
Pitsuwan died of heart failure on 30 November 2017 in Bangkok. He was 68.
Time in the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates uses Gulf Standard Time (GST) (UTC+04:00) and does not observe daylight saving time.
Time in Indonesia
Indonesia has three time zones: Western Indonesia Time (WIB) (UTC+07:00) covers the western part of the country, including Jakarta, Central Indonesia Time (WIT) (UTC+08:00) covers the central part of the country, and Eastern Indonesia Time (WITA) (UTC+09:00) covers the province of Papua. Indonesia does not observe daylight saving time.
Cliff Williams
Clifford "Cliff" Williams (born 14 December 1949) is a former British musician. He is best known as a member of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. He was a member of the band between 1977 and 2016 as their bassist and backing singer. He, along with AC/DC, were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.