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National Service Day was named in his honour, and, today, the focus wasn't on the tragic circumstances of his death but about his long and accomplished life of service. Courtney Weatherburne was at the annual wreath laying ceremony this morning at the Lord Ridge Cemetery. Here's her story.

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, Leader Emeritus, Father of the Nation
"A good citizen is not ashamed to be call a Belizean. He does not want to be something that he is not. We are a new nation. We are Belizeans first and foremost and we are proud to be good Belizean citizens."

Those are the wise words of the late Rt. Hon. George Price. It's a recording of his famous speech delivered 55 years ago at St. Peter Claver School.

And today at his grave site, his voice reverberated, evoking a palpable depth of emotion.

Hon. Said Musa, Former Prime Minister
"Listening to that voice a while ago brought a bit of chill to my spine. I felt, I am already nervous, man, today but I felt extremely nervous just hearing it again, the voice of what the church would call charisma, isn't that so, Bishop? And that voice moved this nation from a backward colonial territory to a proud independent developing nation."

And for that historic contribution and much more, the father of the nation, George Price was honored today on National Service Day.

Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader
"You see Mr. Price never referred to himself as honorable George Price or as Premier or as Prime Minster. He always referred to himself as a worker and he spent all his days working to make Belize better for everyone."

But apart from his service to Belize, he also made an indelible impact on his family and friends.

Emilio Zabaneh, Grand Nephew
"I personally knew Mr. Price for as long as I could remember as a little boy it really didn't hit me how special I was to be in his presence."

"Uncle George was militant with his time, on schedule, and wrote down everything on little pads of paper. I had many questions for him, questions he answered and today as I reflect on his answers to my questions I realized I was a special boy, very unlike the boys in my school who knew from me telling them that the premier was coming to my house today. Those boys would run along that Land Rover shouting greetings of hi and bye to Mr. Price as the Belizean flag fluttered on the hood of his vehicle."

"He would put me on his lap and I could smell his cigar breath and then it would be off to the next thing, usually the meal or off he would go to his next stop."

"The Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price I believe was supernaturally chosen and prepared for the task that was ordained for his hands and feet and mind and soul."

And the Rt. Hon. George Price's soul, memory, and his teachings will live on for years to come.

Hon. John Briceno, PUP Party Leader
"Long live Belize, Que Viva George Price. Que viva Belize."