After the final eulogy was delivered, Dr Phua Swee Liang his wife since 1991, walked up to place a wreath at the casket. This was in turn followed by PM Lee Hsien Loong who represented the government and people of Singapore.
PM Lee standing firmly and ramrod straight in respect after he had placed the wreath.At the lectern is the MC Mr Peter Ho, Head of civil service.
The military pall bearers preparing to remove the state flag and medals
The military pall bearers preparing to remove the state flag and medals
from the casket to be handed to President SR Nathan who then handed
the same over to Mrs Goh Keng Swee.
To the left of this scene, a lone bugler from the SAF began to play
To the left of this scene, a lone bugler from the SAF began to play
"The Last Post". This solemn piece always played only on a bugle signals the
Final Farewell, the Final Goodbye for a fallen comrade, soldier or stateman.
The sounds from the bugle echoed throughout and within the confines of the sombre
hall...Ta..ta..ta..ta..ta..ta..ta.. tah..ra..ra.tah..ra..ra..tah..ra..ra..ta..ta..tum..tum..tum..thumph....!
The whole assembly stood in stoic silence, many reliving their
private moments of sadness and grieve at the passing of such a great man
they have all loved and cherished.
Many must have felt blessed to have at least come into even the briefest
of contact with him. Others knew they had the privilege only few can dream
about...they had actually benefitted from his advice, mentoring and teaching.
Men from all the military wings of the SAF giving The Final salute: We salute you, Sir!
Unk Dicko doesn't think this is the end of the Dr Goh Keng Swee story.
Men from all the military wings of the SAF giving The Final salute: We salute you, Sir!
Unk Dicko doesn't think this is the end of the Dr Goh Keng Swee story.
If I gauge correctly, the larger public especially the older generation,
will want our nation to not only preserve the memory, legacy and accomplishments
attributed to him, but to HONOUR and RECOGNISE him in more elevated and
permanent ways.
Ask any student of history, ask any ordinary person if he or she has heard of this or
that king of a certain period of China and I would not be at surprised if the reaction
is "No".
But ask the same person about a certain man called "Confucius" and the response
will likely be ..."A-ha, yes Confucius. I know ! "
In the same way, we ought to ensure that, at least our present younger generation and those after them,
know WHO Dr Goh once was and the immensity of his contributions to Singapore.
So, what and how can the Government, the people, the stat boards, the universities
and so forth do this?
We the ordinary folks can suggest...for a start.
Any suggestion anyone ?
4 comments:
I think Dr Goh "suffered" from altruism that he didn't want us to honour him in more elevated and permanent ways.
Very true indeed! It's the same for all great men. Many died in poverty, some in obscurity...and they had no say how history will remember them. Only the living and the untold millions who benefited from their goodness can do the right and proper thing..so that such men, as one like Dr Goh, would never be forgotten.
Albert Einstein experienced internal bleeding caused by the rupture of an aortic aneurism.
"For years I have avoided almost all society, because I cannot tell people I am deaf. I have to appear as a misanthrope; I, who am so little of one".
- Beethoven
Maybe “Great men never die” and “The End” is just to start from the beginning.
- Mostafa Chamran Savei
Many people know Confucius but to what extent? I'm skeptical of having a GKS road or building. So many batches of NTU students .. how many of them know Lee Wee Nam, after whom their main library is named after? I'm not from NTU :P
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