Fallen heroes Beaton, Shahoud, Welcome & Khan to be laid to rest today

The remaining four Guyana Defence Force (GDF) servicemen who perished in the horrific helicopter crash last week will be laid to rest today.
The proceedings for Brigadier Gary Beaton will commence at the Promenade Gardens at 12:00h, and last until 13:45h, before the cortege leaves for the Le Repentir Cemetery at 14:00h.
Colonel Michael Shahoud will be laid to rest after a private service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Brickdam at 07:00h. The cortege will then depart for the Memorial Gardens Crematorium and Funeral Home for last rites.
For Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, a service at the Promenade Gardens from 09:00h to 11:00 will be followed by final goodbyes at the Le Repentir Cemetery at 12:00h.
And proceedings for Warrant Officer Class Two Jason Khan will commence at 13:00h at the Burnham Court, at 14:00h at the Promenade Gardens, and at 16:00h at the Memorial Gardens Crematorium and Funeral Home.
The funeral service for the late Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles was held on Wednesday. It saw an outpouring of tributes from Government officials, fellow servicemen, family members and friends.
The GDF Bell 412 helicopter crashed about nine miles southeast of “Blake Slater’s” airstrip, Ekereku Top, Cuyuni River on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of Brigadier (ret) Gary Beaton, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Shahoud, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, and Sergeant Jason Khan.
At about 11:20h on December 6, an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received, but because of rough terrain and adverse weather, the search and rescue team was only able to reach the site on Thursday at about 14:30h.
Only two soldiers survived the crash – Corporal Dwayne Jackson and Lieutenant Andio Crawford – and they were both treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).
In the presence of President Irfaan Ali and other senior officials at the Eugene F Correia International Airport on Friday, the caskets containing the bodies of the servicemen were taken from a GDF Skyvan by their comrades and transported to awaiting hearses.
Brigadier Beaton was the project engineer; Colonel Shahoud, an attorney-at-law, was Commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion; Lt Col Charles was the pilot; Lieutenant Colonel Welcome was Commanding Officer of the Reserve Battalion; and Staff Sergeant Khan was from the 31 Special Forces Squadron.
In honour of the five ranks who died in the helicopter crash, the newly completed Eccles to Diamond four-lane road on the East Bank of Demerara has been named the Heroes Highway.
At the Diamond roundabout is a giant anteater which, according to President Ali, represents strength, resilience and courage – qualities that were imbued in all the victims of the crash.
“This highway is dedicated to the life, work, memories of our five great servicemen. We honour them with this highway… This highway was appropriately named the Heroes Highway. For all the men and women we lose in the line of duty henceforth, their names will accompany the path of this highway. We will not forget them,” the Head of State shared during the commissioning. (G12)