BY JOY OFASIA
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, Dr Franco Rodie, has highlighted the famous PT-109 story as one of the most important episodes of the Second World War in the Pacific.
He made the remarks during the official launch of a children’s book titled “Rescuing JFK: How Solomon Islanders Rescued John F. Kennedy and the Crew of PT-109” at Betikama Adventist College on Thursday.
Dr Rodie reminded students that the story is about how two brave Solomon Islanders risked their lives to rescue then U.S. Navy officer John F. Kennedy and his crew after their patrol boat was sunk in Solomon Islands waters during WWII.
“For decades this story has been told around the world as part of global history, yet for us, it is not a distant story, but happened here in our waters on our islands by our people,” he said.
He explained that history is not only about dates and events in textbooks, but something that shapes identity, teaches values, and builds national pride. He added that it also helps young people understand who they are and where they come from.
Dr Rodie told students that the book is more than just a story about the past. It shows that the experiences of Solomon Islanders matter to the world and should be recorded and shared.
“This is proof that our stories need to be documented, preserved and shared, and that students can become the next generation of storytellers, historians, researchers and writers,” he said.
He also commended the United States Embassy for supporting the initiative to distribute the book to schools across the country.
“This is more than a donation of books, it is an investment in historical literacy, an investment in education and an investment in the imagination and aspiration of our young people,” Dr Rodie said.
He added that the Ministry strongly believes education should empower learners with knowledge of the world and also their own heritage.
“This is why initiatives like this matter,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy campaign will provide every school in Solomon Islands with a copy of the book.
