The September 17 2011 event, a tribute to the nation’s 54th year of independence, was in support of the nationwide Merdeka celebrations.
The non-political organisation’s inaugural event was designed to be educational in nature, as it featured exhibitions from four eras, namely, the Japanese Occupation, the British colonial rule, pre- and post-independence.
The organizers had sourced, among others, uniforms of Japanese soldiers, communists and the Askar Melayu for the respective segments. A collection of old bicycles was also on display at event.
There was also a gallery featuring pre- and post-Independence photographs from a private collection.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of a commemorative plaque to 86-year-old Haji Abdul Rahman bin Khamis who during the guerilla insurgency killed seven communists including the bodyguard to Malayan Communist Party (MCP) leader Chin Peng.
This was followed by a special doa for Merdeka, recital of the Rukunegara and singing of the national anthem Negaraku and the raising of the national flag, Jalur Gemilang. A three-minute fireworks display ended the memorable night.
The event, which will be in The Patriot Foundation’s annual programme of activities, was aimed at helping the government disseminating public information and facts on Merdeka to the general public especially among schoolchildren and youth in and around Johor Bahru.
The Patriot Foundation telah menganjurkan acara awamnya yang pertama di padang bolasepak Taman Setia Tropika di Johor Bahru. Program memperingati Hari Kemerdekaan Negara ini telah dianjurkan pada 17hb September 2011 sempena sambutan hari Kemerdekaan Malaysia yang diadakan seluruh negara.
The Patriot Foundation, sebuah organisasi bukan politik, telah mengolahkan acara ini di dalam bentuk pendidikan di mana pamerannya meliputi empat zaman iaitu pendudukan Jepun, pemerintahan zaman British dan sebelum and selepas Kemerdekaan.
Jawatankuasa penganjur telah dapat mengumpulkan bahan-bahan lama seperti baju seragam tentera Jepun, komunis dan Askar Melayu. Basikal-basikal lama zaman Jepun turut sama dipamerkan.
Terdapat juga galeri yang memaparkan gambar-gambar sebelum dan selepas kemerdekaan gambar-gambar dari satu koleksi peribadi.
Kemuncak acara malam itu ialah penyampaian plak peringatan kepada Haji Abdul Rahman bin Khamis, 86, yang semasa pemberontakan gerila telah menumpaskan tujuh komunis termasuk pengawal peribadi kepada pempimpin Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM) Chin Peng.
Ini diikuti oleh satu doa khas yang teleah dicipta untuk Merdeka serta lafaz Rukunegara dan nyanyian lagu kebangsaan Negaraku. Serentak dengan itu, bendera Malaysia Jalur Gemilang turut dikibarkan.
Acara malam tersebut berakhir dengan satu pertunjukan bunga api selama tiga minit.
Acara yang akan menjadi acara tahunan di dalam kalendar The Patriot Foundation ini bertujuan membantu kerajaan menyebarkan maklumat awam dan fakta-fakta Merdeka kepada orang ramai terutamanya di kalangan kanak-kanak sekolah dan belia di dalam dan sekitar Johor Bahru.
