By Oliva 
Finally, the day came when we took the school bus to head for our memorable trip to Pakistan Army Museum, Lahore. My close friend and classmate, Kashif, brought his diary along with him. It is his hobby to collect pictures and information about Pakistan Army as his uncle is an army officer.
A Tribute to Our Eleven Heroes
I, too, eagerly wanted to know more about those great heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country. Kashif’s uncle had told us many stories about Pakistani soldiers and the army museum. Since that day both of us had been waiting impatiently to meet those eleven heroes from the armed forces we laid down their lives to safeguard the sacred land of Pakistan. The rest of our classmates were also very excited.
Exploring Military Legacy
We arrived at the museum at around 20 a.m. When I entered the museum gate, I was amazed to see many Military Models in front of me. Everything seemed real. There were many big galleries and slabs had different names as.
- Rebirth of a Nation.
- The Quaid and the Armed Forces.
- Shuhada Corner.
- Nishan-e-Haider Gallery.
- Life at Siachen.
- Kashmir Corner.
Legacy of Courage
On getting inside the museum building, I first saw four captured Indian tanks. A brief history of the encounters in which these Indian tanks were captured was displayed near them.Each and every story told us about the bravery of our soldiers who fought for the country.
The Struggle for Freedom
As mentioned before, one of the galleries was named “Rebirth of a Nation”. I was surprised to see life-size portraits of the Quaid-e-Azam addressing the constituent assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947.This gallery was telling a story of the struggle for freedom through paintings photographs and brief information.
Heroes of Nishan-e-Haider
I saw a few more sections there and finally went to the “Nishan-e-Haider Gallery”. Here, I came to know about the Nishan-e-Haider Gallery and its value. Our teacher told us that this highest military award is awarded to these soldiers and officers of the armed forces who sacrifice their lives for their country in an extraordinary act of bravery. Nishan-e-Haider Gallery means “Mark Of Lion”.
The pictures of martyrs make us so proud. Those were our heroes!
A Visit to Remember
Kashif took their pictures. He also noted their names and other details about them. I explored the museum with my classmates for about three hours. Soon it was time to go back. While a leaving the museum, I felt I had gained a treasure trove of knowledge. The army museum was worth visiting. Iwilll surely visit it with my family sometime again.
Final Thought:
Pakistan Army Museum visit was more than just an educational trip. It was unforgettable trip into the heart of our nation’s history and the bravery of those who save it. Each and every gallery, artifact, and story deepened our respect for the sacrifices made by our armed forces. It reminded us that freedom comes at a great cost, and it is or duty to honor and remember those who sacrifice the ultimate price. The visit not only sparked pride in our heart but also inspired us to be more greatful, informed, and patriot citizen.