Bermuda ushered in the observance of its first National Heroes' Day holiday with an impressive celebration of the life of Dame Lois Browne Evans, attended by hundreds at the National Sports Centre.

The event was marked by eloquent speechmaking, soul-stirring choral singing and choral speaking. It was climaxed by the presentation of a specially struck gold medal to the three children of Dame Lois by Premier Ewart Brown on behalf of the Government and people of Bermuda.

The Premier was cheered when he said it was only natural "that Dame Lois should be Bermuda's first national hero. As a woman of firsts, this singular honour is rightly bestowed on her and it is the least we can do as the beneficiary of her struggle.

"Today, we have the privilege and honour of recognising Dame Lois Marie Browne Evans as Bermuda's first national hero. And while we acknowledge that she was an extraordinary woman of great character and numerous accomplishments who stood at the forefront of law and politics in Bermuda for more than four decades. It was perhaps the rare combination of enormous character, significant accomplishments, a keen sense of social justice and a remarkable, overwhelming humanity that has caused us to recognise this stateswoman as The Mother of our Nation."

The medal, with its inscription in Latin, was accompanied by a printed proclamation summing up the remarkable life of Dame Lois in service to God, her family and country as a practitioner par excellence of the law, a committed wife and mother.

And during a period rife with racism and intolerance, she persevered and fought the good fight as a strong warrior determined to make Bermuda a better place for all.

And during more than four decades at the forefront of law and politics, Dame Lois was one of the island's most respected, influential, captivating, complex persons who was selfless above all. Both keynote speakers, Dr. Brown and Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Paula Cox cited how national sovereignty for an Independent Bermuda was the one dream of Dame Lois that was not fulfilled during her lifetime.

The Premier said: "At the risk of generating headline number 5,237 on this subject, this is the party (PLP) of Independence for Bermuda and to say otherwise is to betray the ultimate dream of Dame Lois."

He added: "When the time is right, we must fulfil the last part of her dream."

Ms Cox, who was a running mate of Dame Lois in her Devonshire constituency, began her tribute, saying: "Lest we forget, Dame Lois was a champion for justice, social equity and an advocate for the people. She had a litany of firsts that helped make her the living legend that she was. A character who loomed larger than live, and who inspired passionate feelings; she connected to people.

"However, what most impressed me was that she cared so deeply about people. She wanted to see the country do better and to fulfil our full potential and this included attainment of national sovereignty. She believed further in the innate goodness of people. She may have been a feisty female who represented feminosity in action but she was a tremendously forgiving soul and often reminded those around her about the importance of 'living and let live'."

Continuing, Ms Cox described Dame Lois as "a wonderfully warm and charismatic woman with a devilish laugh and a glint of mischief in her eyes; yet despite her love and commitment to politics, family was key in her life. The king of her universe was the man we dubbed as 'Sir John Evans'. Their children, Tina, Nadine and Donald, and her grandchildren were the love of her life, and she revelled, enjoying them even more once she had retired officially from public political life."

Photos show a specially struck gold medal being displayed by the children of Dame Lois Browne Evans, citing her as Bermuda's first national hero, Ernestine (Tina) Caines, Donald Evans and Nadine Browne-Evans Pusha (photo by Royal Gazette's Mark Tatem).

Governor Sir Richard Gozney, Chief Justice Richard Ground, Cabinet Ministers and other parliamentarians are shown (below right) being brought to their feet applauding male students of Prospect Primary School for a spirited rendition of We Are Your Future, a poem written by their principal, Dr. Shangri-La Durham Thompson, and Culture Minister Dale Butler. Others engrossed in the tributes are on the left.