“Upon producing a current identification card, private businesses should consider granting serving and retired personnel discounts on goods and services as well as preferential service”. President Dr. Julius Maada Bio appealed for uniform personnel.

He said for instance, transport operators should consider lower fares; mobile companies should consider special discount plans; retailers, including supermarkets, building supplies, electronics, and houseware or general merchandise stores, should consider special discounts; insurance providers and private healthcare providers should consider special rates; banks should consider special concessionary rates; house owners should consider special discounts on rent; and more.

President Bio said these are not policies or pronouncements but that these are simply suggestions to citizens to say ‘thank you’ to the men and women in uniform and those who have served this nation every day in their ways.

In the words of US General, George S. Patton: “The soldier is the army. No army is better than its soldiers. The soldier is also a citizen. The highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one’s country”.