National Heroes Day

A hero can be described in different ways. The Oxford English dictionary definition is ‘a person, typically a man, who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.’ Some people consider heroes as those who have experienced great difficulties in their lives and overcome them, and nowadays the word hero can be used to describe both men and women equally. Furthermore, in my opinion heroes are not only the people who fight in a war, but also those who have dedicated their knowledge and their lives to helping other people to be better. This essay will discuss examples of Indonesian heroes, the reasons they became heroes and how they can inspire young people today.

We celebrate National Heroes Day here to remember and honour those who fought in the war for Indonesian Independence. Teuku Umar, Cut Nyak Dien, Iskandar Muda and Achmad Soebardjo are just some examples of Indonesian National Heroes. These kinds of heroes joined the war in different situations and eras. Some of them are recognised as National Heroes; the people who died for the struggles of Indonesian Independence. In other words, National Heroes are the Indonesian people who are honoured because they fought against colonialism in Indonesia. There are also the Revolutionary Heroes who died in the G30S tragedy which happened on the 30^th September 1945, such as Achamad Yani, Suprapto, Haryono and others. All of these people showed great courage and sacrificed themselves in order to fight for what they believed in. They dedicated their lives and loyalty to their country.

All of those heroes are role models for young Indonesians today. Even in today’s situations we can follow their examples. Like the heroes of the past, young people should not be afraid to do what is best for their country.  Another way that young people can follow the heroes is to fully dedicate their efforts and talents to the betterment of the country.

In conclusion, celebrating National Heroes Day is just one of the ways for young people to appreciate and honour our Indonesian heroes by learning more about them and their struggles for the country, and also by trying to imitate the characteristics of our heroes who gave their best for our country.