Mangalore: Road Named after Flt Lt Serrao Inaugurated
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS/SB)
Mangalore, Jan 17: The valiant hero Flt Lt Ronald Kevin Serrao’s father Rtd Lt Col John Noel Serrao’s struggle for years to fetch the respect that his departed son so deserved was finally acknowledged on Sunday January 17, Flt Lt Serrao’s birthday.
Kuchikad Road in Kulshekar was renamed as Flt Lt Ronald Kevin Serrao Road in memory of the brave son of this land and was inaugurated by Mangalore south MLA N Yogish Bhat.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhat said that a soldier’s service to his motherland should always be remembered with great respect. It is our duty to respect these fearless spirits, who strive for peaceful living of the citizens by dedicating their lives for nation’s protection, he said.
He added that every student in schools and colleges should gain knowledge about service in armed forces. District Retired Soldiers’ Association (DRSA) are working towards fulfilling the same, he said. Bhat expressed that the venue in front of the renamed road also needs to be named after Serrao so that he will always be remembered through the activities that take place at the venue.
Bishop of Mangalore Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza commended the parents of Ronald Kevin Serrao for dedicating him to serve the nation, which could be the best offering ever made to a nation. His name will always be etched in the memory of people as a martyr, he added.
Retired Lt Col John Noel Serrao, wife Deepika Dadlani, Mayor K Shankar Bhat, local corporator Mariamma Thomas, Air Vice Marshal Karnik and Radhakrishna Shetty, president of DRSA were also present. Retired Lt N Sharath Bhandary gave an introduction about Flt Lt Ronald Kevin Serrao.
The programme was organized by DRSA.
Kevin Serrao died while practicing bombing sorties on Jaguar at Pokhran Field firing ranges in Rajasthan on January 18, 2007. The residents of Kuchikad, Kulshekar had presented a memorandum to district administration and Mangalore City Corporation to rename the road after Serrao. A resolution was passed to this effect on December 10, 2008.