JAKARTA - That afternoon, Saturday, April 4 at Terminal 3 Soekarno-Hatta Airport, the air not only carried the roar of the aircraft engine, but also the burden of grief that was suffocating. In a room, three coffins wrapped in the Red and White flag lined up stiffly. Inside, the three knights of the nation rest forever: Major Inf. Anumerta Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, Serka Anumerta Muhammad Nur Ichwan, and Kopda Anumerta Farizal Rhomadhon.
They returned not with a straight step, but in the embrace of wood and fabric of pride, after completing a sacred duty in the land of Lebanon for the sake of world peace.
Baby's Cry in the Silence of Grief
In the corner of the room, the atmosphere was so heartbreaking. The wife of the late Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan sat down, hugging her baby tightly. The baby kept crying, a small voice that seemed to break the silence of the deep grief. Maybe he was looking for the scent of his father who would never hold him again.
In the midst of the wailing, President Prabowo Subianto's footsteps approached. There was no rigid protocol at that time; all that was visible was the figure of a leader who also felt the pain of losing the nation's best children.
The President bowed. With a gentle gesture, his fingers stroked the tiny head of the restless baby. A moment later, the President landed a kiss on the baby's cheek - a symbol of the highest respect and a promise that the country would not forget his father's sacrifice.
Reinforcement in the Tears of Water
The president didn't say much, because sometimes words are not enough to heal wounds. He turned to the wives and mothers of the soldiers, took their hands, and whispered words of encouragement.
In front of the coffins of Kopda Anumerta Farizal Rhomadhon and Major Inf. Anumerta Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, a similar scene repeated. The wives could not hold back their tears when talking to the President. On their side, the mothers stood firm even though their eyes were swollen, guarding their sons for the last time next to the cold coffin.
Final Tribute to the World's Guardian
Before leaving the room, President Prabowo stood upright in front of the photo of the three deceased. A military honor was given - a sign of respect from the Supreme Commander to those who have given everything, beyond the usual duties.
They died under the UN mandate (UNIFIL), far from home, to ensure that children in other parts of the world could sleep soundly. But that afternoon, under the dimming Tangerang sky, it was their own children who had to learn to grow up without the presence of a hero by their side.
The President's kiss on the forehead of baby Muhammad Nur Ichwan is a reminder to us all: that the price of peace is often paid in tears and eternal parting.
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