It was under a radiant sun that Galax ETOGA, Secretary of State for Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie visited the Maison du Combattant in Yaounde on Thursday, May 23, 2019 as part of the traditional Cohesion Meal that ONACAM offers annually as part of the May 20 festivities.

Adorned with its most beautiful assets, the ONACAM had made its festive days mute: green spaces mowed, refreshed paintings; a House of the Combatant in its most beautiful toilets, where the vulgar ceiling of yesteryear gave way to a staff decorated with projectors and chandeliers of the style of the Oriental Palaces, like an old woman waiting for her Prince Charming. It glittered under the sun like a diamond with multiple colors, enough to arouse jealousy in such a circumstance, a real architectural jewel that resembles a Middle Eastern palace, all under an air conditioning to give you chills if you are a chilly.

It is in this circumstance that His Excellency Galax ETOGA was welcomed at the House of the Combatant of Yaounde to the sound of the music of the Fanfare of the Veterans. This young musical group is made up of retired Defense personnel from the various musical groups of the Armed Forces and their supporters.

At 3:00 p.m., His Excellency Galax ETOGA, representing the Minister Delegate to the Presidency in charge of Defense, stepped on the steps of this mythical house of the Cameroonian fighting world, a true sanctuary of remembrance dedicated to those who gave their youth and their lives to safeguard the national institutions as well as those who embody them. Meanwhile, the Banquet Hall was already filled with several guests namely:

• the General Officers in activity and in the second section ;
• the Defense Attachés to the Embassies of China, Cote d'Ivoire, Central African Republic, Nigeria, France;
• Senior officials of the Ministry of Defense;   
• Members of the Board of Directors of ONACAM in residence in Yaoundé;   
• Ladies and Gentlemen, Senior and Subordinate Officers of ONACAM;   
• a representation of the non-officer personnel of the Regional Delegation of ONACAM of the Center;
• and several other guests,

each wearing colorful outfits for the occasion. At the table of honor were waiting the high personalities of the Ministry of Defense among which, Colonel ® Alfred FULLER Director General of ONACAM and several other General Officers. Visibly satisfied, the Representative of the Minister of Defense took the place reserved for him after shaking hands with the guests at the head table.

Once installed at the head table, the master of ceremony took the floor to present the program of the day which included:

• The entry of the ONACAM's Standard to the sound of the Veterans' band;
• The performance of the National Anthem by the same Veterans' Band;
• Followed by the welcome address of the Director General of ONACAM;
• The presentation of the menu;
• And finally, the opening of the Buffet

And finally, the opening of the Buffet to the sound of a famous orchestra coming straight from Douala and directed by the great Saxophonist-Pianist "MARIUS", to give more musical color and put atmosphere during this Meal which the guests will still remember.

After the entry of the Etendard and the execution of the National Anthem, the floor was given to the Director General for his welcoming words.

From the table of honor, the Director General made it known that he wanted to welcome the Minister as well as the guests in a more attractive setting, which reflects the ambitions of the General Management, to always do better, in order to further enhance the brand image of the Cameroonian Veteran.

According to him, the latter deserves a better recognition from the Nation for the services he rendered. He justified himself by saying that in Cameroon, the Head of State His Excellency Paul BIYA grants to the Veteran, a place of choice because in most African countries, the latter is considered as "a second class citizen". The Director General invites the African leaders to follow the example of the President of the Republic of Cameroon who grants to the veteran of his country, a better recognition on the national scene. It is also thanks to him that the Cameroonian Veteran benefits today from more consideration and recognition in the Cameroonian society and on the international scene. With this recognition, the Director General of ONACAM wanted to demonstrate the opposite of what is thought elsewhere of this category of citizen who sacrificed himself at the expense of his life to bring peace and establish democracy in our countries.

Continuing his speech in a dense and instructive intervention, he invited the reader to linger a little more on this speech, in order to appreciate the work of national construction of the Cameroonian Head of State around the ideals of peace and National Unity on the whole national territory, with an emphasis on the North West and South West Regions.

The Director General also dwelt on the involvement of senior defense officials in the peace process in Cameroon, giving the example of His Excellency BETI ASSOMO Joseph who, at the cost of his health and his life, has dedicated himself to setting the pace for the Defense Forces committed to the pacification of the country and the implementation of the decisions of the Cameroonian Head of State.

At the end of his speech, the Director General of ONACAM revealed to the Minister, in front of all the guests, the harvest he brought back from the 29th elective General Assembly of the World Veterans Federation which took place in Paris in February of the current year, namely

• the election of Miss NDJENG Paule Marlyse as an Alternate Member of the Financial Control Commission.
• the unanimous re-election of Colonel Alfred FULLER as President of the Permanent Commission on African Affairs (CPAA), Vice-President of the World Veterans Federation and Member of the World Executive Board.
• During the closing dinner, this Cameroonian Officer was honored with the "Veteran's Medallion of Honor" because of his contributions to the development and influence of this organization of the Fighting World, thus putting Cameroon in the spotlight.

In his word of thanks, Colonel FULLER, first of all, dedicated this honorary distinction to His Excellency PAUL BIYA, President of the Republic, First Cameroonian Veteran as well as to the Veterans and War Victims of Cameroon before handing it over to His Excellency Mr. Minister who in turn presented it to the guests under a round of applause.

In closing his speech, he praised the patience, the kindness and wished His Excellency Galax ETOGA and all the guests to spend pleasant and memorable moments in the company of Cameroonian Veterans in this Shrine of Remembrance.

[Click here to read the full speech of Colonel ® Alfred FULLER]

This was followed by the presentation of the menu. A varied menu that included Cameroonian dishes from various regions of the country as well as some menus from elsewhere cleverly chosen in a decor worthy of the dimension of the event. All this in an atmosphere maintained by the orchestra that musically strolled the guests in melodies of the 80s through the Cameroonian and foreign music. The virtuoso "Marius", sometimes on the saxophone and sometimes on the guitar plunged the guests into a musical atmosphere worthy of renowned nightclubs. The party was really beautiful; the veterans surrounded by their guests found their youthful freshness of the 70s.

Although His Excellency the Minister, visibly very satisfied, withdrew due to his particularly busy schedule, the party continued until late at night. From the faces of the guests, one can tell that they were surprised by the beauty of the arrangements made in the Banquet Hall and the professionalism of the Veterans in the organization of the "Cohesion Meal, 2019 Edition".

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