BY NED GAGAHE
The Solomon Islands will commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the end of the Battle of Guadalcanal this Thursday, August 7, 2025 with two official ceremonies to be held at Skyline Ridge Memorial and the “Pride of Our Nation” monument along Commonwealth Street.
The commemorative events will honour the sacrifices of Allied forces and local Solomon Islanders, particularly the Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers, whose bravery and service during World War II played a vital role in the war in Pacific.
Invited guests to the ceremonies include the Governor General, the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Opposition, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and visiting U.S. military personnel and tour groups from the United States and Australia.
U.S. Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Ann Marie Yastishock, will lead the American delegation, which will also include senior officials from the U.S. Marine Corps. Australian Defence Attaché Captain Emma Griffiths will also participate in the program.
A special highlight of the event will be the presentation of seven medals to families of former Solomon Scouts in recognition of their forefathers’ wartime service.
Delivering the keynote address will be Eminent Professor Dr. Martin Hadlow, a founding member of the Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers Trust. Dr. Hadlow, who formerly managed SIBC in the 1980s, has long been involved in preserving the wartime history of Solomon Islands and began collecting World War II data during his time in the country.
The ceremony at the “Pride of Our Nation” monument—dedicated on August 7, 2011 by former Governor General Sir Frank Kabui and sculpted by renowned local artist Frank Haiku SIM—will feature a wreath-laying ceremony.
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Band, the U.S. Colour Guard, and members of the Solomon Islands Boy Scouts Association will take part in a formal parade and guard of honour.
Commonwealth Street will be temporarily closed to traffic from 8:00am to 10:00am to accommodate the ceremony.
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