A daughter's Long Journey: Linda pays tribute to father killed by Japanese army in Miri during WWII
MIRI (June 13): A group of 60 people gathered today at the World War II Memorial Park in Miri to pay tribute and lay wreaths in remembrance of the 28 victims executed by the Japanese during their occupation 80 years ago.
Among those present was 87-year-old Linda Bodestyne Fluhart, whose father, John Bodestyne, was one of the 28 martyrs executed on June 13, 1945 by the notorious Kenpeitai (Japanese military police).
It took Linda 72 years to locate her father's final resting place in Miri.
Marking the solemn 80th anniversary of the execution, she attended the memorial with her two daughters, Lesley Carnegie and Sandy.
Her third daughter, Adeline Carnegie of Perth, was unable to attend.
(From second left) Yii with Linda and her family at the Miri World War II Memorial Park.
The memorial park, nestled between SMK St Columba and the Gymkhana Club, served as the backdrop for the poignant ceremony.
Miri Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang led the wreath-laying at the tomb of the 28 martyrs, whose names were first inscribed on a copper plaque by Miri's Chinese community.
The service was organised by St Columba Parish and officiated by retired Bishop Solomon Cheong. Japanese soldiers lead Memorial Park miri occupation World War II WWII
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