President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, led the nation in a state funeral service and reburial of former President Samuel Kanyon Doe, and the burial of former First Lady Nancy Bohn Doe in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County last week.
The ceremony, held at the Zwedru City Hall, was attended by members of the Doe family, an array of government officials, the clergies, traditional leaders, and thousands of citizens from across the country and abroad.
In a solemn and historic moment for the country, Pres. Boakai described the occasion as “not merely a burial, but a powerful national moment of reflection, healing, and reconciliation.”
He added: “This is a time to reconcile with our history, to heal from our wounds, and to remember with respect and purpose.”
“We cannot build a prosperous Liberia on broken foundations. Our future depends on unity, on confronting the past through truth, forgiveness, and a shared commitment to progress,” the President reminded Liberians.
Boakai served as managing director of the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC). He later served as the Minister of Agriculture. The President offered personal reflections on Doe’s leadership, vision, and contributions to national development.
He noted: “Doe was determined; he was sometimes misunderstood, but he was always committed to improving the lives of the Liberian people.”
Pres. Boakai said, “the burial ceremony represented more than a symbolic gesture; a defining step in the nation’s collective effort to heal from years of conflict and build a peaceful and inclusive future.”
“This reburial carries weight far beyond Grand Gedeh or the Doe family. It symbolizes a broader effort to reconcile with our past and to heal our nation,” he declared.
Pres. Boakai also used the occasion to express his profound appreciation to members of the reburial Committee, headed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Marley Jallah, comprising government officials, members of the Grand Gedeh Legislative Caucus and community leaders, for the successful coordination of the solemn state event.
In a deeply symbolic gesture, prior to leaving Grand Gedeh, the President made a pilgrimage-like stopover in Tuzon, the birthplace of the late Samuel K. Doe.
According to a release, the Tuzon’s visit served as a mark of respect to the late President’s roots and his enduring connection to the people of Grand Gedeh County.
The President’s visit to Tuzon was welcomed by some key Doe family members, his nephew Senator Zoe Pennue, his daughter, Celue Doe, sisters and other Doe children, community elders, local residents, and traditional leaders, who hailed the moment as a long-awaited recognition of their son’s legacy.
Ms. Celue Doe pointed out that long before Pres. Boakai’s visit, her inquiry has established that no president had set foot in Tuzon since the demise of President Doe.
In also honoring the memory of former First Lady Nancy Bohn Doe, Pres. Boakai noted that her unexpected passing, while she was preparing for the reburial ceremony of her husband, had deepened the nation’s sorrow, but also amplified the meaning of the moment.
“She stood firmly by President Doe’s side, not as a figure eclipsed, but as a light of her own,” he said, eulogizing, “her legacy is one of resilience, honor, and steadfast love.”
The President address centered on unity to all Liberians, especially the youth.
“To our youth, learn from the lessons of our history. Let unity, peace, and service to country be your guiding stars,” cautioning: “Let us build a Liberia where no region is forgotten, no citizen is overlooked, and no past injustice is allowed to define our future.”
The state funeral and reburial were seen as milestones in the country’s journey of reconciliation and nation-building. The dignified ceremonies offered not only closure to the Doe family, but also a reaffirmation of the country’s commitment to justice, remembrance, and peace.
“Let us reject bitterness. Let us reject division. Let us walk forward with hope, guided by love for our country and faith in our shared destiny,” Pres. Boakai exhorted Liberians.
He prayed that: “the souls of President Samuel Kanyon Doe and Mrs. Nancy B. Doe rest in perfect peace,” beseeching God to bless us all and save the Republic.