Jamaicans have been urged to summon the courage of a previous generation and stand firm in defence of truth and liberty just as men and women from this region answered the call to serve when World War II plunged the world into geopolitical turmoil and economic uncertainty. Reverend Captain Astor Carlyle made the appeal on Sunday in his sermon during the service celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) Jamaica 580 Branch at Garrison Church of the Ascension inside the Jamaica Defence Force’s Up Park Camp headquarters in St Andrew.

According to RAFA, the service, held under the theme ‘80 years of service, sacrifice, and unity’, marks the commencement of a year of celebrations to mark its founding.

Referencing the first lesson — Isaiah 6:1-8, which tells of the prophet Isaiah seeing a vision of God, realising he is sinful, gets cleansed by a burning coal, and volunteers to serve God by saying, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ — Rev Carlyle said that in the time of Isaiah, Judah needed someone to shoulder the responsibility of being God’s representative during great confusion.