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General News of Tuesday, 3 June 1997

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TWO WAR VETERANS BURIED

A rather quiet burial ceremony was held at the military cemetery at Osu yesterday for two destitute veterans who had been in the morgue at the 37military Hospital in Accra since last year October. The president and Commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces Flt. Lt. J . J. Rawlings who is said to have been instrumental in honouring the veterans with burial with full military honours was present at the burial with Ministers of Defence Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, the chief of Defence staff, Major General Ben Akafia, service chiefs and officials of the veterans Association of Ghana.

The two Second World Wars veterans ex-sergeant William Appiah and Ex-Corporal Kuntun Blankson were said to have been admitted at the hospital in October last year where they died but no member of their families came forward to claim their remains. During a recent visit to the hospital, the Commander-in chief was said to have been told of the plight of the Veterans upon which he ordered that they should be given a fitting military burial.

The Rev. Major Isaac Kofi Gyasi of the Ghana Armed Forces conducted the burial service. After the committal services a two minute silence was observed and the last post was sounded followed by the reverie. Three wreaths were laid the first by the president on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, the second by Major General Ben Akafia on behalf of the officers and men of Ghana Armed Forces and the third by Col. E. B. F. Prah for the Veterans Association of Ghana. Graphic