MELAKA: For 95-year-old army veteran Simon Lazaroo, a small medal carries the weight of a lifetime of service.
Just days before National Day, the Portuguese descendant from the Settlement in Ujong Pasir was bestowed the Bintang Cemerlang Melaka (BCM) at an investiture ceremony last Sunday in conjunction with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Ali Rustam’s birthday, making him the oldest recipient that day.
Meaningful honour: Lazaroo receiving his BCM award from Mohd Ali.
Born in 1930, Lazaroo enlisted in the armed forces in 1954 and served until 1976 before retiring as a rank-and-file officer.
His service spanned several turbulent chapters in the nation’s history, including operations during two major insurgencies and a peacekeeping mission in Congo.
Over the years, he was decorated with medals for bravery, yet this latest recognition struck a deeply personal chord.
His youngest son Jerry, 49, wheeled him into the ceremony hall.
“For my father, this was the greatest Merdeka gift.
“He was proud that the state government had not forgotten him,” Jerry said here yesterday.
Jerry recalled how his father often shared vivid memories of 1957, when the nation achieved independence.
“He tells those stories to all my five children. He may be one of the last surviving veterans in Melaka to have lived through those moments,” he added.
Jerry said the BCM award came nearly half a century after his father’s retirement, a reminder of service that might have otherwise faded into obscurity.
He shared that it was Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong who had recommended his father for the honour.
“When YB Khoo visited, he was surprised to learn that my father had been almost forgotten despite all he had done.
“This award has given him and our family a sense of closure and pride, especially with National Day just around the corner,” said Jerry, adding that his father’s military number 201793 is more than mere digits; it is a marker of sacrifice, resilience and patriotism.
“For my family, the medal pinned on our dad’s chest this Merdeka season is not only a state recognition, but a timeless reminder that his service still lives on in the heart of the nation,” he added.
