Canon Burke: Great Sacrifices made by National Heroes

Our National Heroes’ have been able to make great sacrifices and offered tremendous contributions to national, economic, social and religious landscape of Barbados.

Canon Noel Burke said this during his greetings at the Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving held at The Sealy Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday. In the presence of the Prime Minister of Barbados, The Right Honourable Freundel Stuart, Minister of Tourism, Honourable Richard Sealy and his aides, Canon Burke added that the national heroes worked against tremendous odds, their thinking often ran counter to the prevailing views of their day.

“[National Heroes’] lives were such that they changed the trend of thinking, fabric and outlook of many in Barbados. They demonstrated what we can do and those things which we are capable even with the few and limited resources of our island,” said Canon Burke.

Under the theme of “Keeping Alive the Memories of National Heroes”, Canon Burke explained that the [service] was to place the National Heroes’ contributions within a theological framework of powerful themes of the Exodus story, that of the resurrection of Jesus – that people must always be free.

“[People] must always be free to participate in financial, economic, social, spiritual and religious enterprises of human life. With the human dynamic of building communities in which we can help each other and receive the kind of help that is vital if it is all able to move from strength to strength,” said Canon Burke.

He ended his greeting by thanking God for Sealy Memorial AME Church and their leadership offered the ecumenical service to the nation. Additionally, Canon Burke prayed that the acknowledgement of the national heroes will inspire all of Barbadians to take their duties and responsibilities as citizens seriously.

“We honour their memory and take up the mantle to make life better for all,” said Canon Burke.