Papuan Paskibraka Member Nervous While Carrying Tray During Flag-Lowering Ceremony

Neeltje Deliana Insjowi Werimon felt nervous as she took part in the flag-lowering ceremony for the Red and White at Merdeka Palace on Monday afternoon (17/8).

The member of the National Flag Hoisting Troop (Paskibraka) from Papua was tasked with carrying the tray and returning the Red and White to President Prabowo Subianto. All eyes were on Neeltje as she walked slowly up the steps of Merdeka Palace one by one.

Despite admitting to feeling anxious, Neeltje carried out her duties well. The nervousness she had felt turned into pride when she came face to face with Prabowo.

“Of course, at first I was very nervous because I had to carry out this very heavy task. But on the other hand, I was also excited because I could perform the flag ceremony at the State Palace and also meet the President,” Neeltje said.

Neeltje, a student at SMA Negeri 8 Jayapura, Papua, said the task was an unforgettable experience.

However, although she felt relieved to have carried out her duties well, she also felt deep emotion. With the conclusion of the peak events marking Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day, she had to part ways with her fellow Paskibraka members, whom she had come to regard as friends.

Neeltje and the other Paskibraka members underwent training together for approximately one month. The training programme, ranging from briefings to physical and mental exercises, brought her and the other members closer together.

“That is because for about a month we have been working hard, doing physical and mental training every day. And finally today the task is finished, and we also feel very relieved,” she said.

For Neeltje, the moment of Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day was an opportunity to remember the services of the heroes who fought for independence.

Thanks to the sacrifices of past heroes, Indonesia’s young generation now has the opportunity to pursue their respective dreams, including Neeltje, who aspires to become a mining engineer.

She hopes the experience gained during her Paskibraka education and training can serve as a foundation for her future life and help her achieve that dream.

“In my view, to give meaning to Independence Day is to appreciate all the services of our heroes who fought for our independence,” she said.

Neeltje also conveyed her prayers and hopes for Prabowo, wishing him continued health and long life in carrying out his duties as Indonesia’s leader.

“May the President live long, always be healthy, and be able to see the Indonesian nation become a much better nation, and be able to see us, the young generation, become the new hope of the nation,” she concluded.

Emotional parents

The moment of the 81st anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia at Merdeka Palace was a special experience for the family of Neeltje Deliana Insjowi Werimon, a Paskibraka member from Papua Province.

For the first time, Neeltje’s parents set foot in the Palace and witnessed their daughter carrying out her duty as the bearer of the Red and White flag tray during the flag-lowering ceremony at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Monday afternoon (17/8).

Neeltje’s father, Aiwoisendin Hendrik Werimon, expressed his amazement at finally seeing the Palace in person. Until now, he had only known the Palace through television screens.

“All this time we have always watched from TV. So when I first saw this, ‘Eh, this is like on TV.’ So it was extraordinary. We were quite amazed to see the reality of this Palace,” Aiwoisendin said.

The experience was made even more memorable because he also met President Prabowo Subianto face to face for the first time.

He expressed his appreciation to Prabowo for the opportunity given to the Paskibraka members to carry out their duties in the state ceremony.

“To the President, thank you for this opportunity given to our children,” he said.

Aiwoisendin hopes that President Prabowo will always be granted good health and be able to make the best decisions for the nation and state.

“We hope the President is always healthy and can make the best decisions for the nation and state,” he said.

According to Aiwoisendin, Neeltje’s journey to becoming a Paskibraka member was also a source of pride for the family. Previously, Neeltje had not been interested in joining Paskibraka activities.

“We were very surprised when she chose to join Paskibraka, because she was previously not interested in that activity. And when she was in high school and decided to take it up, we were quite surprised and in the end we supported her,” he said.

As a parent, Aiwoisendin admitted that he could only provide support and prayers for his daughter’s efforts. He hopes the experience Neeltje gained during her time as a Paskibraka member can become a valuable foundation for her future.

“Because it is her own effort, as parents we can only pray. And may the best for Neeltje in the future be achieved by Neeltje,” he said.

Meanwhile, her mother, Steffi Edithya Florence Awom, said the biggest challenge during Neeltje’s approximately one-month training camp was not being able to meet and communicate with her daughter.

“For about a month not meeting was actually the hardest thing. Not meeting and not communicating, that was the hardest thing,” Steffi said.

Nevertheless, Steffi was proud to see Neeltje able to get through the various physical exercises and mental conditioning until she finally carried out her duties well at the State Palace.

“They also had to forge their mentality to be better, disciplined, and so on. Their character was shaped. I think they successfully got through those difficult times and were able to carry out their duties well,” she said.