The artillery shell cases from the 21-gun salute fired during the State Funeral Procession of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew will be given to individuals and organisations closely linked to him.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office on 17 March listed the recipients of the artillery shell cases that were collected after Mr Lee’s funeral on 29 March 2015.
During the State Funeral Procession on 29 March, the 21st Battalion of the Singapore Artillery fired a 21-gun salute at the Padang with four ceremonial 25-pounder howitzers. Following the funeral, the twenty-one artillery shell cases were then collected by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
“The Government has decided to present the shell casings to the eulogists at the State Funeral Service, the organisers of the State Funeral, and institutions and organisations that have been closely associated with Mr Lee,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in their statement.
The full list of recipients include the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force, People’s Association, Parliament, Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, Housing & Development Board, National Parks Board, Public Utilities Board, National Trades Union Congress, Temasek Polytechnic and Tanjong Pagar Community Club.
Individuals presented with the casing include Old Guard leader and former education minister Ong Pang Boon and former senior minister of state for education and environment Sidek Saniff.
Of the organisations, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), Housing & Development Board (HDB) and People’s Association (PA) have announced their intentions to display their artillery shell cases for viewing at various galleries and exhibitions.
The CPIB said in a statement that its artillery shell casing would be displayed at its upcoming public exhibition “Declassified – Corruption Matters”, which will be held from 7 April to 22 May 2016 at The Plaza @ National Library. The CPIB added that “the late Mr Lee backed the Bureau with the resources, the legislation and the independence to carry out its work without fear or favour,” allowing Singapore to enjoy a “corruption-free and having a clean government imbued with the values of honesty and integrity.”
HDB’s chief executive officer Dr Cheong Koon Hean expressed her appreciation for the late Mr Lee. “The late Mr Lee Kuan Yew is the key driver of public housing in Singapore. His vision of a home-owning society has given Singaporeans a tangible stake in the nation. Without his vision, Singaporeans today would not have a home they can call their own, upon which they can build their family and lives. Nor would HDB have the privilege to house almost an entire nation,” Dr Cheong said. The HDB Gallery, located at HDB Hub at Toa Payoh, will hold the artillery shell case received by the HDB, allowing for public viewing of the case.
For the PA, Minister Chan Chun Sing said at the shell casing presentation which took place at the PA headquarters at Jalan Besar, that the PA’s shell casing will be on a permanent display at the headquarters. PA staff and visitors alike will have the opportunity to view the casing.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also took to a Facebook post earlier today to express his gratitude to the recipients of the artillery shell cases. ”My deep thanks to all of them for the roles they played in my father’s life and for their contributions to the nation,” he wrote in his message.
For the full statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, click here.
