Thank you & Farewell

March 2015 is a month of rememberance, more so 23rd March in particular.

It is the day I start a new job albeit with a heavy heart and swollen eyes no less. While driving to my new office (and still is), heard the announcement over the radio of the passing of our founding father. It was a very solemn morning with sad music playing in all major radio stations as a respect, for the whole day. It was heartbreaking to hear the formal statement from the PM whose father had passed on and yet had to put on a strong front as PM of the country. During lunchtime, we happen to dine in the vicinity of SGH and our boss kindly offer us a few mins to pay respect at the temporary tribute  tentage. It was more than tough to keep the tears in check, a min or two of silence was observed in front of his portrait and the air surrounding us felt really heavy and dense. 

Most of us monitored closely on the updates of tribute sites and when or where his body will lay in state. The queue was horrifying on the 1st day, snaking round to many locations around Parliament house, e.g. Raffles place etc. Crowd control had to be deployed with rejection of public adding on to the queue. Queue were then routed to Padang and even so, it is meandering round in the Padang. Tents are built by the SAF to provide shelter for the public, volunteers help to hand out water and snacks, vendors provide snacks and drinks FOC for those in queue. It was a heartwarming week and the unity of the citizens whom have all put aside their indifferences and came together for a sole purpose. Just when the night came after a whole week of planning on joining the queue regardless of 8-12 hours wait are to be expected, I came down with high fever. Try to sleep off the fever but in vain thus was very upset. Even though we have went to our nearby CC, one of the tribute center to pay respect with the kids in tow, I had wanted to be there.

And so it happen that the following day, just one day short of being the last day before the state and private funeral, we got news from friends that parents with kids have been given priority queue and the wait is less than 30mins. Almost immediately we changed and lug the firstborn with us. We have not brought the girl for fear that the queue might build up and it will be too exhausting for her. The walk to Padang was quite a long one but pretty much manageable for us. It was very hot since nearing noon but we took comfort in the tents for shelter along the queue as well as drinks and snacks offered generously to us. Yes, we got to pay for respect to him, no dry eyes. The tears came automatically once stepped into the compound, the quiet and solemn hall where his body lay in state.

It poured heavily on the afternoon of his funeral, the moment the gun carriage leave the Parliament House. Clearly everybody wept for him and while the rain poured, nobody made any attempt to leave their spot lining the route the cortège were passing through. We watched the whole ceremony live broadcast, in front of the tv as a family. More tears flowed.....very emotional day.

We have what we have today because of you, your beliefs and your fighting spirits. Thank you & Farewell!