A nostalgic march down memory lane
SINGAPORE — When he was first approached in February to round up 50 participants for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) contingent of the Vintage Parade, Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret) Swee Boon Chai felt stressed.
“I had to fish out contact lists from years ago and send out text messages and emails, not knowing if the numbers were still in use,” said the 69-year-old, who also took part in the Republic’s very first National Day Parade (NDP) in 1966.
But LTC (Ret) Swee’s worries were for nought. Within three weeks, more than 80 people responded favourably.
Yesterday, the SAF’s 50-strong contingent decked out in first-generation uniforms — including army soldiers in green, navy officers in beige and those in the air force in a blue-and-white ensemble — was part of 450 participants in the parade, which also featured iconic outfits and veterans from eight other organisations, including the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force, People’s Association, PUB, POSB, SingHealth, PSA Corporation, Housing and Development Board and the Singapore Airlines.
Other nostalgic icons showcased in the segment — meant to recreate past parades in the 1960s and ’70s — include nurses donning their white vintage caps, police officers in khaki shorts and the now-defunct fire brigade helmets. It also featured icons more familiar to younger generations of Singaporeans, such as the Singapore Airlines’ Singapore Girls clad in their sarong kebayas.
Banker Robert Phua, who was among the spectators at the Padang, enjoyed the vintage element. “It is important to remember how we started, and they also got the original guys to take part in the parade,” he said.
The participants, who first started training for the parade in April, included veterans aged over 80 and younger ones in their 20s and 30s. Participants went through 15 training sessions held at the Bedok camp and the Padang.
“The kind of interest and willingness to commit (to the training sessions) really touched me ... I guess everyone hopes to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime moment. I’m not sure if everyone would live to see SG100,” said LTC (Ret) Swee, adding that a few participants had postponed their wedding anniversary celebrations when they clashed with training sessions.
DBS branch manager Nora Kang, who led the POSB contingent, said she volunteered for the parade because marching at the Padang “brought back good memories”.
Ms Kang, 60, led the contingent with colleagues Ong Soo Giok and Tan Leh Hua, both 55. The trio participated in their first parade as part of the POSB family in 1979. Speaking to TODAY after the parade yesterday, Ms Kang said she was “overwhelmed and very happy” to be part of a significant moment in Singapore’s history.
Besides attending weekly foot drills on Saturday afternoons, Ms Kang said she also had advised the organising committee on its design of the olduniforms.
She said: “I am proud to be Singaporean and so proud of our founding father. Even the weather held up for us today. This is a wonderful experience and I am so honoured to be part of it.”
