From loss to legacy: Taraivosa Bola reflects on her father’s sacrifice

As the nation marked the 106th Remembrance Day ceremony in Suva on Tuesday, 18-year-old Taraivosa Bola stood among the crowd, tears in her eyes.

The ceremony honoured Fijians who served overseas and those who never returned, including her father.

Ms Bola was only six when tragedy struck. Her father, Timoci Bola, a member of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq Guard Unit, suffered a sudden heart attack while on duty in Iraq in 2012 and never came home.

“I still remember the day we got the call from Iraq,” Ms Bola said.

“My mother fell to the ground crying. I didn’t understand everything back then, but I knew my dad was never coming home. I wish he could still be here with me.”

Her father’s absence shaped her childhood. Birthdays, family gatherings, and school events were constant reminders of the empty space he left behind.

Yet, even in his absence, his legacy lived on through her mother’s strength and her own determination.

“My mum became both mother and father to us,” Ms Bola said.

“She worked so hard, kept us safe, and taught me to be strong. Even though he’s gone, I feel my father’s courage guiding me every day.”

Standing among families of fallen soldiers, Ms Bola felt the weight of sacrifice deeply. The ceremony, marked by solemn marches, wreath-laying, and prayers, was not just a tribute to Fiji’s heroes but a personal reminder of her father’s service and the life he gave his family.

“I see my father in every soldier marching,” she said. “His uniform, his service, it’s like he’s still here, teaching me what it means to be brave.”

For Ms Bola , Remembrance Day is more than a ceremony; it is a moment to honour and carry forward the values her father lived and died for.