This day celebrates the Egyptian forces crossing the Suez Canal during the October war. Sunday 6th October 1973.
There was a very cheerful convoy of vehicles coming into Gazira. People cheering, singing, waving flags as they make their way the the football field in front of the ferry terminal on the West Bank. As usual on these events, even if the children are very small and do not understand what is going on, they all seem to have a good time and the sense of it being a special occasion.
Abdu a teacher in History and Geography told me that we have to teach our children the history. Every year in all of Egypt on the same day, it’s a holiday for all people that work for the government and a holiday for all schools. All the men go out from their homes to celebrate while the wives celebrate at home. This meeting is special for children and students.
Abdu said there are two messages. First, we want to tell the world that we are here in peace. Second, we have to teach our children that this is something we have to remember. Every year we have to put it into our children for it to grow. If we do not remember out past, we do not have a future.
In the centre of the first photo is the Manager of 26 schools.