<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>July 5, 2009
YOUR LETTERS
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Name army units after war heroes
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-- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->On the 65th death anniversary of World War II hero Lim Bo Seng last week, the question of whether we should accord national monument status to his grave was raised (' 'Make hero's grave a national monument'').
We should give due recognition to the final resting place of this hero and maintain it well, so that we will never forget his sacrifices.
Wartime heroes and heroines such as Lim, Adnan Saidi and Elizabeth Choy are eminently suitable role models for members of our armed forces.
But why not go one step further?
We can honour these individuals and inculcate their fighting spirit and patriotism in members of our armed forces by, for instance, naming a battleship 'The RSN Lim Bo Seng', a commando battalion 'The Adnans', or a frontline hospital unit 'The Elizabeth Choy'.
But these are not mere names to be attached to army units for decorative or commemorative purposes.
The units so named must also live up to the courage and fierce determination exhibited by these heroes in their moment of calling, so that a Singapore Armed Forces commando can, for instance, say proudly: 'I am an Adnan commando.'
Within each unit, the unique character of its hero and his act of valour can serve to inspire the members as they assume their duty in the nation's defence. And if a time does come when these units are called to defend the country, they would know their names as a battle cry, and rally and inspire each member to give his all.
Chia Buk Chua
YOUR LETTERS
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Name army units after war heroes
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
-- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->On the 65th death anniversary of World War II hero Lim Bo Seng last week, the question of whether we should accord national monument status to his grave was raised (' 'Make hero's grave a national monument'').
We should give due recognition to the final resting place of this hero and maintain it well, so that we will never forget his sacrifices.
Wartime heroes and heroines such as Lim, Adnan Saidi and Elizabeth Choy are eminently suitable role models for members of our armed forces.
But why not go one step further?
We can honour these individuals and inculcate their fighting spirit and patriotism in members of our armed forces by, for instance, naming a battleship 'The RSN Lim Bo Seng', a commando battalion 'The Adnans', or a frontline hospital unit 'The Elizabeth Choy'.
But these are not mere names to be attached to army units for decorative or commemorative purposes.
The units so named must also live up to the courage and fierce determination exhibited by these heroes in their moment of calling, so that a Singapore Armed Forces commando can, for instance, say proudly: 'I am an Adnan commando.'
Within each unit, the unique character of its hero and his act of valour can serve to inspire the members as they assume their duty in the nation's defence. And if a time does come when these units are called to defend the country, they would know their names as a battle cry, and rally and inspire each member to give his all.
Chia Buk Chua
