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| Image Credit: article.wn.com |
Today is the 11th day since we bid our final farewell to Lee Kuan Yew, founding father of Singapore. My tears were rolling as I penned down my recollection of that week's nation-wide mourning. The overwhelming reaction of many had moved every heart and soul as one united nation. An extraordinary and meaningful event we will never forget.
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29th March 2015
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29th March 2015
The nation wept. So did the skies. In torrential rain, about 100,000 Singaporeans lined the streets to say our last farewell to the founding father of Singapore. The rain started as early as 11 am and it got heavy almost an hour before the funeral procession. Our umbrellas fought and all of us were sopping wet before the procession started.
As the time drew closer, the rain poured heavier. People were shouting "lower your umbrellas, show your respect!" and we obediently kept our umbrellas while the band started to play. As I froze in fear and shivered relentlessly, my legs were numbed and my heart pounded, faces around me contorted into a portrait of anguish with tears rolling and mingling with the rain.
I told myself not to give up but stand tall and proud a Singaporean should be whether or not in times of calamity.
This was my last chance to pay my last respect and send off the man who devoted all his life for Singapore to give us better lives. What is getting drenched compared to the man who fought for our independence and transform a city of mudflats to a metropolis, that we can hold our heads high as we pass through every country's immigration?
As the cortege passed by on a gun carriage, people shouted "Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Kuan Yew", "Thank you", "We love you".
The world mourns ..
Mr Lee did us proud
Hongkong
Japan
India
Bhutan
It was a day of awakening. United as a nation, we say goodbye with mixed emotions.
We grief because we have lost a good leader and we are grateful and proud to have such an extraordinary man as our founder.
We cried because we had almost forgotten the place we grew up from was a slump while enjoying the fruits of his labour now. Yet we still complain that life is tough but it would be much tougher without the works of Lee Kuan Yew.
We did not pay attention when he spoke on national day rallies and thought it was boring.
We had forgotten how he hard he worked to formed the PAP with his team mates like Goh Keng Swee, Jayaratnam and Toh Chin Chye to fight for our independence. The anguish he felt when Singapore was "kicked" out of Malaya and the British withdrew their forces. That was when Singapore almost could not make it.
How he launched the HDB so that most of us could afford a comfortable shelter and created job opportunities for our pioneers. How he promoted bilingualism so that we preserve our mother tongue. Most importantly, the cohesiveness he promoted among this multi-racial society that led us to live harmoniously together. How he ordered the clean up of Singapore River so that we do not smell the stench anymore.
His numerous campaigns had mold Singapore to what it is today, a prosperous nation we are so proud of while holding our red passports while lining the immigration while overseas. We grew proud of being Singaporeans.
We expected Lee Kuan Yew to continue to be our pillar and live longer. We have become complacent like the spoilt child. We have been asking but have forgotten to give.
Today, our father is gone and we suddenly felt lost. Our hearts sank when we heard the news of his death. Some of us did not know why we felt sad but our grief was genuine. For the whole week, we were overwhelmed by emotions as we watched his stories on TV and read articles about him. The whole nation was mourning. Some people wore black throughout the week and most of us avoided bright colours to show our respect.
The long queue under searing hot sun and those braving the rain to say goodbye touched everyone's hearts. Our phones and cameras were also put to a test of endurance. Amazing scenes were captured as hundreds of thousands paid their respects at the various tribute centers. So did I. After I placed the flowers and paid my respect, penned my tribute while waiting for my parents to finish writing theirs, I could not control my emotions anymore. My sudden remorse that was suppressed for few days were poured out in a swift 2 minutes.
Thank you Mr Lee. Your work is done. You deserve a good rest.
May your legacy lives on in the future generations to come.
Mr Lee did us proud
Hongkong
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| More than 500 people turned up to watch the live telecast of the state funeral of Mr Lee Kuan Yew in Hong Kong. Image Credit: ChannelNewsAsia |
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| Around 100 people were at the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo for the screening of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's State Funeral. Image Credit: ChannelNewsAsia |
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| India
New Zealand
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| New Zealand Flag flying at half-mast at the country's Parliament House. Image Credit: ChannelNewsAsia South Korea |
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| Singaporeans living in South Korea gathered in Seoul to watch the State Funeral of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Image Credit: ChannelNewsAsia Philippines |
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Singaporeans, including families and businessmen, as well as Filipinos gathered at the Singapore Embassy to watch the State Funeral of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Image Credit: ChannelNewsAsia
Kuala Lumpur
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| Image Credit: ChannelNewsAsia |
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| Bhutan lowered its national flag to half mast as a mark of respect for the State Funeral of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Image Credit: ChannelNewsAsia |
We grief because we have lost a good leader and we are grateful and proud to have such an extraordinary man as our founder.
We cried because we had almost forgotten the place we grew up from was a slump while enjoying the fruits of his labour now. Yet we still complain that life is tough but it would be much tougher without the works of Lee Kuan Yew.
We did not pay attention when he spoke on national day rallies and thought it was boring.
We had forgotten how he hard he worked to formed the PAP with his team mates like Goh Keng Swee, Jayaratnam and Toh Chin Chye to fight for our independence. The anguish he felt when Singapore was "kicked" out of Malaya and the British withdrew their forces. That was when Singapore almost could not make it.
How he launched the HDB so that most of us could afford a comfortable shelter and created job opportunities for our pioneers. How he promoted bilingualism so that we preserve our mother tongue. Most importantly, the cohesiveness he promoted among this multi-racial society that led us to live harmoniously together. How he ordered the clean up of Singapore River so that we do not smell the stench anymore.
His numerous campaigns had mold Singapore to what it is today, a prosperous nation we are so proud of while holding our red passports while lining the immigration while overseas. We grew proud of being Singaporeans.
We expected Lee Kuan Yew to continue to be our pillar and live longer. We have become complacent like the spoilt child. We have been asking but have forgotten to give.
Today, our father is gone and we suddenly felt lost. Our hearts sank when we heard the news of his death. Some of us did not know why we felt sad but our grief was genuine. For the whole week, we were overwhelmed by emotions as we watched his stories on TV and read articles about him. The whole nation was mourning. Some people wore black throughout the week and most of us avoided bright colours to show our respect.
The long queue under searing hot sun and those braving the rain to say goodbye touched everyone's hearts. Our phones and cameras were also put to a test of endurance. Amazing scenes were captured as hundreds of thousands paid their respects at the various tribute centers. So did I. After I placed the flowers and paid my respect, penned my tribute while waiting for my parents to finish writing theirs, I could not control my emotions anymore. My sudden remorse that was suppressed for few days were poured out in a swift 2 minutes.
Thank you Mr Lee. Your work is done. You deserve a good rest.
May your legacy lives on in the future generations to come.
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