MARIA Dalituicama travelled for 24 hours to witness her only son, Rifleman Sairusi Dalituicama, receive the Best Endeavour Award — the most prestigious for new recruits into the British Army.
Ms Dalituicama was overcome with emotion when he received the award at the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick, Garrison in England, yesterday “I couldn’t hold back my tears when Sai’s name was called out,” the 51-year-old Tukavesi, Cakaudrove native said.
“As I stood there with other parents, memories of our struggles as a family in Tamavua started flashing back.”
Ms Dalituicama said she worked long hours as a housemaid to send her two children to school and help her husband put food on the table.
“We didn’t have well-paid jobs because I was just working as a housemaid while my husband worked for the Suva City Council.
“Despite the struggles and not having enough money, as parents we never gave up on our children, we worked hard to provide the best we could for them.”
She said her son was obedient and his success was because of the respect he had for his elders.
“My son is a living testimony of what children can achieve if they obey their parents. Whenever we disciplined Sai, he never disrespected us or said something back to hurt us. He would just listen.”
She said all those years of prayers had been finally answered .
“I give back the praise to God. I thank everyone who supported my son throughout the years.”
Rifleman Dalituicama attributed his success to his parents.
“Everything I’ve achieved was possible through my parents’ sweat and struggles,” the 24-year-old Viwa, Bau, native said.
“During the six months of intense training, the idea of giving up never crossed my mind because I knew that I had to make my parents proud and prove critics wrong.”
