It was Friday, August 16th. It was already 8:30 in the morning. However, the atmosphere at the LAI printing plant was different than usual. There was no siren announcing work hours. There was no whirring of machinery. It was quiet from the sound of machinery, but bustling with human voices. Today, everyone was gathered in the yard, immersed in joy together. Celebrating the 79th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia's independence. No employees were seen wearing factory uniforms. More than 200 employees, from administrators and printing managers to daily workers, wore red and white t-shirts. Everyone mingled and joked without distinction of rank or status. Without regard for age, ethnicity, or religion.

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That day, the extended family of LAI Printing celebrated this moment of freedom with various events: ceremonies, prayers together, eating together, dancing together and holding various competitions that illustrate respect for the values ​​of heroism: togetherness, struggle, sacrifice, perseverance and sportsmanship.

While delivering a speech at the commemoration ceremony, the Secretary General of LAI, Dr. Sigit Triyono, stated that Indonesia's independence was achieved through the struggle and sacrifice of the nation's children from various ethnicities, religions, and ideological backgrounds. Independence belongs to all the nation's children. Second, as a generation living in the realm of independence, Mr. Sigit invited all employees to fill it by providing the best work and creativity wherever God places us, whether in the workplace, family or community environment. Especially in the LAI environment, employees can emulate the struggles of the heroes by working honestly, sincerely and giving their best work for the common welfare and for the benefit of the people. Third, the moment of togetherness one day should be used to strengthen the bonds of friendship and togetherness among all LAI employees, especially in the LAI Printing environment.

After a brief ceremony, the Independence Day celebration committee at the LAI Printing House invited everyone to dance together to the cheerful rhythm of dangdut. Dangdut brought everyone together. The General Secretary, the Head of Printing, the department heads, the supervisors, and all the employees, both senior and junior, danced together. The excitement grew even louder when the offerings arrived. Employees jostled and jostled, eager to get their hands on the donations. Not for the monetary value, but more for the joy of togetherness.

After the dancing, the first two competitions continued: moving a glass with a straw and moving a sarong without using hands. All were team competitions. They required togetherness and solidarity. Even though they might not have known each other beforehand, everyone had to participate and support each other.

After the first two competitions, the event was paused for lunch and to allow employees to attend Friday prayers. At 1:00 p.m., the competition resumed with the second two competitions: water volleyball and group water transfer. The event concluded around 4:00 p.m. After the announcement of the winners, the event concluded with a collective cleanup of the LAI printing yard.

It was Friday, August 16, 2024. It was a day for everyone to forget about the pressures of work. For a single day, there was no distinction between department heads, section heads, supervisors, and regular staff. Everyone was united in the same joy. Everyone ate the same food. Breakfast: bananas, boiled sweet potatoes, and bajigur. Lunch: soto Lamongan and cendol dawet Banyumas. Everyone participated in the competitions, laughing and cursing together.

That evening, as the race ended and the sun set, the first thought came to mind: would this togetherness and intimacy soon pass? Could the classless, barrier-free, yet spirited atmosphere still be felt on weekdays? Because that's what independence should be like, when everyone can work, struggle, and give their best in a joyful atmosphere. At least, in that brief moment, everyone realized: the price of independence is never cheap. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of the nation's children shed their blood to win and maintain this country's independence.

That Friday was a day of liberte, egalite, fraternite (freedom, equality, and brotherhood) for everyone to experience. May this spirit remain palpable on ordinary days as well. Freedom, equality, and brotherhood bind us together, God's people, freed and saved from both colonialism and sin. For freedom and liberty are essentially gifts from God alone. We who have experienced freedom should also liberate and strengthen one another, to work together to achieve the best possible work for the glory of His name. Freedom!