Opening Remarks by Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, at Artillery Shell Casing Presentation Ceremony, at SAFTI MI

My colleague SMS Dr Mohamad Maliki,
PS(D),
Chief of Defence Force,
Service Chiefs,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

A year ago, Singapore bade its final farewell to our founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. I think that the memory is fresh in our minds, especially to the SAF because we were responsible to organise the national week of mourning. As the final day of mourning dawned, MINDEF and the SAF thought hard on how we, as an institution, could show our deepest and most profound gratitude for what Mr Lee had done for the SAF. At the Lying-in-State, the SAF paid its highest compliments, when all three Service Chiefs, led by the Chief of Defence Force, stood as the first set of vigil guards, standing watch over Mr Lee’s body. On that rainy Sunday, a year ago, the SAF also bade farewell to Mr Lee, in our own distinctive way. As the cortege passed the City Hall, the Army fired off a 21-gun salute in his honour. In the skies, the RSAF Black Knights executed a memorable and poignant fly-past. Out at sea, RSS Dauntless and RSS Resilience conducted a ceremonial sail-past and paid their respects to Mr Lee. That Sunday, the entire SAF came together as one in our final salute to Mr Lee.

Many of you were personally involved and will remember how hard our men worked throughout the week and especially the night of 27th March. They had to transform the Padang which had become a \"camp\" for mourners and those who paid their respects to Mr Lee's Lying-in-State. Overnight they moved the 300 tentages because the Padang was used as a dignified and solemn site for the 21-gun salute and to accommodate the crowds lining up to pay their last respects to Mr Lee as the cortege passed by City Hall.

Of the 21 shells fired, Prime Minister Lee has decided to give them to persons and institutions that held a special meaning for Mr Lee. The SAF meant a lot to Mr Lee. He had firm views on the need for a strong defence. Without Mr Lee's convictions, the SAF could not be where we are today. You are familiar with this quote, let me refresh your memories. Firstly, what Mr Lee said in 1967 on the importance of National Service: \"It will take many years - perhaps five, perhaps seven, perhaps 10 years - before we can get the whole machine into gear. But in the end, every boy and girl here will understand that what he or she has in Singapore, he or she must be prepared to fight and defend. Otherwise, it will be lost.\" Some of you will also recall that during the Temasek Society 30th Anniversary Dinner in 2012, Mr Lee reiterated: \"From the day we started, I knew that we needed a strong SAF, and I believe that still remains today\".

Today, we are honoured to receive the casing of two of the 21 shells fired as Mr Lee's cortege made its way around the Padang. These two shell casings represent the Government’s deep appreciation and thanks to the SAF and the Army for organising the State Funeral last year. The shell casings will be placed in the SAFTI MI Heritage Gallery and the Army Museum, for future generations to come. I hope that when our men and women see the shell casings, they willl remember how the SAF came together as one force with a common mission to honour Mr Lee. And I hope they will also remember Mr Lee's vision of building a strong and capable SAF to defend our way of life and will commit themselves to achieving that vision. That will be our most fitting way to remember Mr Lee. Thank you.

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Minister for Defence Presents Artillery Shell Casings to the Singapore Armed Forces and the Singapore Army