In light of the Covid-19 pandemic that we are in the midst of, the National Day Parade (NDP) this year is going to be unlike any we’ve seen.
Apart from reducing the number of NDP participants and audience, celebrations will also be ‘decentralised’, allowing Singaporeans to participate closer to home.
Come National Day (9 Aug), Singaporeans are encouraged to sing the National Anthem from their homes as flag-raising ceremonies happen islandwide.
Named “Anthem Moment”, the NDP organising committee urged Singaporeans to tune in to the live broadcast of flag-raising ceremonies happening across the nation and record themselves singing the National Anthem.
At 10:30 sharp, flag-raising ceremonies will be held in 7 location across Singapore, each representing a “key national sector” hit by the Covid-19 virus. These are:
Changi Airport — transport
Enabling Village — social services
Kampung Admiralty — housing and community
Lifelong Learning Institute — employment and skills
National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) — healthcare
North Vista Secondary School — education
NTUC FairPrice Hub — trade and Industry
A flag-raising ceremony will also be held at the Padang.
7 ministers will be observing the ceremonies at each of the 7 locations:
President Halimah Yacob, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as well as Ministers Ng Eng Hen and K. Shanmugam will be present at the NDP, seated outside the National Gallery.
Singaporeans can submit footage of themselves singing to the NDP organising committee and stand a chance to see their footage featured in the broadcast during the evening broadcast, which starts at 7pm.
In addition to the flag-raising and National Anthem singing ceremonies, Singaporeans can also look forward to other forms of celebrations happening in the heartlands.
Residents staying in Jurong East and Sengkang can admire the stunning parachute display put up by the brave Red Lions.
The Mobile Column, comprising SAF and Home Team vehicles will also be taking 5 routes through the heartlands of Singapore.
Singaporeans can also hear the majestic roar of our fighter jets as they fly past estates in Singapore, paying tribute to frontline workers.
The programs highlighted above are just a few that the NDP organising committee has come up with. Check out the full lineup here.
Props to folks from the NDP organising team for coming up with such engaging programme despite the challenges and limited faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Though this year’s parade is going to be different from those in the past, we hope Singaporeans will still come together to celebrate our nation’s achievements and share their hopes and dreams for a better future.
Featured image adapted from NDP Organising Committee.
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