A memorable day for families - and a former national athlete
SINGAPORE — As excitement over the National Day celebrations grew throughout the day, crowds thronged the Marina Bay area, many of them heading out early to claim a prime spot to catch the first item on their agenda for the day: The aerial manoeuvres by the Black Knights at noon.
Supply chain manager Allen Wan, 36, and his wife, three children, mother-in-law and helper were out celebrating National Day together for the first time. “It’s the Jubilee celebrations. It’s once in a lifetime,” said Mr Wan, who was at the open area in front of Marina Bay Sands. “It’s always good to have the family together for special events like this.”
Also using the opportunity to spice up their usual weekly family gatherings were four generations of the Lin family. The Lins turned up for a picnic at the Marina Barrage to catch the “live” screening there of the National Day Parade in their self-designed white T-shirts.
Hairstylist Jason Lin, 44, said preparation for this special family gathering started as early as the beginning of the year, when they came up with the design of their T-shirts. Each person’s shirt is customised to go with the year he or she was born in.
Crowds grew so thick that the family could not enter the Marina Barrage area when it was closed temporarily before the Black Knights’ display.
Later in the evening, the Ministry of Communications and Information issued a notice saying the Marina Bay area had reached its full capacity. The Ministry advised the public to proceed to the Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Flyer and the Marina Barrage instead.
Mr Lin said his family, aged four to 69 years old, came with enough homemade food and drinks to last the day. “We are a very close family, meeting every weekend, but we made it special (on this day),” he said.
Others, like PR practitioner Cho Pei Lin, took celebrations back into the home with red-and-white-themed house parties. Having failed to win NDP tickets in the ballot, they decided to throw their own party to watch the parade.
For former national sprinter Mr Muhammad Amirudin Jamal, 28, Aug 9 will not just be memorable because of National Day, but also because it will be his wedding anniversary. Getting married on Aug 9 this year was his wife’s idea and his family donned red and white for the festivities.
