To show appreciation for the contribution of national servicemen, a campaign has been launched in Singapore whereby citizens are urged to make a simple gesture – a salute- to these brave men of the soil. The campaign has been launched as Singapore marks 50 years of National Service (NS50).
Launching the programme, Senior Minister of State (Defence) Mohamad Maliki Osman, said, “NS has played a critical role in protecting the country’s borders and keeping its streets safe. The Republic can never take its peace and stability for granted.”
He added, “It’s timely for all of us to show that respect (and) recognition to all our servicemen by this very simple gesture of saluting them wherever they meet them.”
Under the programme, the public are encouraged to pay homage to the national servicemen they know or meet in their daily lives, and to post photos or videos of their salute on social media, along with their words of appreciation, with the hashtags #NS50salute and #safrasg.
Safra (Singapore Armed Forces Recreation Association), which kicked off the 'We Salute Our NSmen campaign', hopes to amass more than 50,000 salutes by the end of October. This is the latest in the slew of events lined up throughout the year to mark the NS jubilee.
Safra will also make available interactive digital photo kiosks at all its clubs and its key NS50 events until the end of October.
In addition to this, photo kiosks will also be placed at selected malls and bus stops islandwide, among other things.
Visuals posted to Instagram with the campaign’s hashtag and those taken at the photo kiosks will be featured on Safra’s NS50 webpage and screens across Safra clubs.
While urging Singaporeans to participate in this drive, Dr Maliki said, “It is hoped that every Singaporean salutes each and every serviceman, so that they can continue to do their part and Singaporeans can continue to enjoy the peace and stability… for many, many more years to come.”