The Patriots…

As the sun went down,the air at the Chandigarh War Memorial filled with strains of patriotic songs and hundreds of candles shimmered in the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the country.

At the Chandigarh War Memorial,hundreds of candles shimmered in the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the country

As the sun went down,the air at the Chandigarh War Memorial filled with strains of patriotic songs and hundreds of candles shimmered in the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the country. The candle lighting ceremony at the Memorial saw a large number of residents,defence personnel,both serving and retired,officials of the Administration,as well as school children pay homage to our soldiers on Martyrs Day.

Brig Sant Singh (Retd),who was decorated with the Mahavir Chakra during the 1965 Indo-Pak War,lit the first candle followed by others. I have been associated with the Memorial since the very beginning. I come here every year to remember the sacrifices of our brave soldiers, says Brig Sant Singh,

A large number of defence personnel were present at the Memorial along with their families. Naik Sandeep,who had come from Zirakpur said that the Memorial and the names etched here are a reminder of the fact that life can end in a second,I am here for the first time. I wanted my children to know about the sacrifices of our soldiers.

A large number of enthusiastic school children from St Stephens School,Sector 45 and Army Public School,Chandimandir lighted candles,with Nikhil and Rahul being overwhelmed by the gathering. I have read all the names etched here. Some of these names are of people I knew. A few of my colleagues in school belong to the families of martyrs. For me,its a very emotional moment, said Sunita,a teacher at Army Public School.

Bands of the Chandigarh Police and Dogra Regiment took turns to play patriotic songs. Earlier in the day,a wreath-laying ceremony was held,and present on the occasion were Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj Patil,GoC-in-C,Western Command,Lt Gen S R Ghosh.

Capt Abhay Chandra,Adviser,Civil Aviation Punjab,had got along his four-year-old son,I want him to know about the sacrifices of the Defence Forces, quipped Abhay. Nodded Sukhleen Sodhi,who is here on every Martyrs Day and Kargil Divas The memorial is a great initiative for remembering our soldiers, added Sodhi.

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For Major General M S Kandal (Retd) and Brig Phoolka (Retd),the visit to the Memorial was a walk down memory lane,as they remembered many of their colleagues and friends. The Memorial has names of about 8,500 martyrs since Independence. The names of my boys are etched here. I am here,but they are gone. Their sacrifice is supreme and I have come to pay my respects, said Brig Phoolka.

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