COMMUNITY
COLOURS UNVEILED IN PUBLIC EYE
19 Jul 2007
Missed out on National Day Parade (NDP) tickets this year?
Before you make a beeline to One Fullerton or Esplanade Bridge to soak in the festivities on our nation's birthday, do make a stop at the Suntec City Convention Centre to see the uncasing of the State and Regimental Colours in public for the first time.
"Usually, before the Colours are paraded for NDP, we will uncase them in a quiet and secluded area of the National Stadium," said First Warrant Officer (1WO) R. Naidu John, the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) for the State and Regimental Colours for NDP 07.
"This is the first time such a solemn ceremony is showcased in public."
The Colour Party (for single colours) is made up of a Colours Ensign, who holds on to the Colours, and two armed Escorts on either side of him. The Colours RSM and the Colours Orderly will be standing in front of them to uncase or case the Colours.
The pomp and ceremony accorded for the unveiling of colours accords respect for something so sacred and dignified.
In total, there are 35 Regimental Colours on parade this year, from units such as the 1st Commando Battalion, Naval Diving Unit and Air Defence Brigade.
After the Colours are uncased, the Colour Party and parade contingents will march about 1.2 kilometres to the NDP floating platform at Marina Bay.
"You feel really proud and honoured to be part of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), as all eyes are on you. It is also a good form of National Education to let the public view the uncasing - something they may never get to see again after five years (when the NDP is held at the new National Stadium)," said 1WO John.
2WO (NS) Francis Tian (left), the reserve Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) for the State and Regimental Colours, is simply looking forward to doing his best during the NDP preview, where he will be calling the shots.
"I'm from the 2nd People's Defence Force (2 PDF) and as our unit's acronym goes, we believe in Passion, Daring and Fortitude," he told PIONEER, adding that his spare time is now spent brushing up on drills and salutes.
"When I was asked whether I would want to take on this role, I said yes, because I had the passion for it, dared to step up to the challenge and have the fortitude to see it through."
"It is really quite stressful to uncase the Colours in public, since we cannot afford any slip-ups, but we'll all just remember to march with pride and carry the Colours with honour," he added.
Colours originated as a means of battlefield identification - to rally the troops and to mark the location of the commander. Today, they have become the symbols of the spirit of regiments, still retaining all the glory, honour and veneration of the past.
The Colours are consecrated before use and are usually only paraded on significant and auspicious occasions. On parades, they are always escorted by armed guards and paid the highest compliments by all soldiers and officers.
For the SAF, Colours are traditionally paraded on National Day, SAF Day and on Anniversary Day parades, with a proper Escort Party and Guard-of-Honour contingents.
Before you make a beeline to One Fullerton or Esplanade Bridge to soak in the festivities on our nation's birthday, do make a stop at the Suntec City Convention Centre to see the uncasing of the State and Regimental Colours in public for the first time.
"Usually, before the Colours are paraded for NDP, we will uncase them in a quiet and secluded area of the National Stadium," said First Warrant Officer (1WO) R. Naidu John, the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) for the State and Regimental Colours for NDP 07.
"This is the first time such a solemn ceremony is showcased in public."
The Colour Party (for single colours) is made up of a Colours Ensign, who holds on to the Colours, and two armed Escorts on either side of him. The Colours RSM and the Colours Orderly will be standing in front of them to uncase or case the Colours.
The pomp and ceremony accorded for the unveiling of colours accords respect for something so sacred and dignified.
In total, there are 35 Regimental Colours on parade this year, from units such as the 1st Commando Battalion, Naval Diving Unit and Air Defence Brigade.
After the Colours are uncased, the Colour Party and parade contingents will march about 1.2 kilometres to the NDP floating platform at Marina Bay.
"You feel really proud and honoured to be part of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), as all eyes are on you. It is also a good form of National Education to let the public view the uncasing - something they may never get to see again after five years (when the NDP is held at the new National Stadium)," said 1WO John.
2WO (NS) Francis Tian (left), the reserve Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) for the State and Regimental Colours, is simply looking forward to doing his best during the NDP preview, where he will be calling the shots.
"I'm from the 2nd People's Defence Force (2 PDF) and as our unit's acronym goes, we believe in Passion, Daring and Fortitude," he told PIONEER, adding that his spare time is now spent brushing up on drills and salutes.
"When I was asked whether I would want to take on this role, I said yes, because I had the passion for it, dared to step up to the challenge and have the fortitude to see it through."
"It is really quite stressful to uncase the Colours in public, since we cannot afford any slip-ups, but we'll all just remember to march with pride and carry the Colours with honour," he added.
Colours originated as a means of battlefield identification - to rally the troops and to mark the location of the commander. Today, they have become the symbols of the spirit of regiments, still retaining all the glory, honour and veneration of the past.
The Colours are consecrated before use and are usually only paraded on significant and auspicious occasions. On parades, they are always escorted by armed guards and paid the highest compliments by all soldiers and officers.
For the SAF, Colours are traditionally paraded on National Day, SAF Day and on Anniversary Day parades, with a proper Escort Party and Guard-of-Honour contingents.
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