A MUSEUM DEDICATED TO OUR SOLDIERS

Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, 2M, MOS, CDF, COA, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

1. The essence and the strength of the Army lies in its people - the collective will and capabilities of its soldiers.

2. The story of the Army over the past 40 years is the story of the people who make up our Army - the pioneering soldiers who served in our two infantry battalions, 1 SIR and 2 SIR; the first batch at SAFTI and our first national servicemen who answered the call todefend our fledgling nation; our soldiers who built the Army into a combinedarms force in its second generation of development; and our current generation of soldiers who are transforming the SAF into an integrated and networked Third Generation force.

3. While much has changed about our Army – its weapons, technology and organization - the fundamentals have not. The SAF is a potent and credible fighting force because of the spirit and the quality of our soldiers, national servicemen - full-time and operationally ready - and our regulars and volunteers. Because of their efforts, our armed forces have become a potent fighting force, respected in the region, able and ready to handle a wide spectrum of threats.

4. While the Army Museum will show the history and development of our Army, and introduce you to our cutting-edge platforms and systems, what the Museum captures and conveys is the fighting spirit and the will of our soldiers, and all the Singaporeans who stand behind them. This is the true strength of the Army. This is why the Army Museum is dedicated to our soldiers. The soldier of the past, the soldier of the present and the soldier of the future. 5. The Army Museum recounts the lives of our soldiers, the experiences of our National Servicemen, and the family, friends and employers who support them when they serve. It is a place where the stories - some remarkable, but many ordinary - of those who have shouldered the duty of defending Singapore come alive. Their stories are timeless and will remind Singaporeans for generations to come of the important part that each of them plays. Their dedication shows how the ultimate strength of a country rests with the resolve and unity of its people.

6. In the Museum, every soldier can add to the story, and he and his buddies can exchange greetings, renewing and strengthening their bonds. Their bonds of friendship and camaraderie teach us that we are responsible for each other; that we have to stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow Singaporeans to keep our families and our homes safe. Their sacrifices remind us of our obligations as citizens and that this is our country where we all belong.

7. Through the stories captured by the Museum, we hope successive generations of servicemen and Singaporeans will be inspired by the achievements and efforts of their predecessors. By recognising the contributions and sacrifices of the past, the Museum can motivate the servicemen coping with the demands of the present, and be a source of inspiration for tomorrow’s soldier who has to confront the uncertainties of the future.

8. As we open the Army Museum of Singapore today, I wish to congratulate the Army for establishing a rallying point for all Singaporeans. The Museum is a tribute to our military, our National Servicemen, and to every Singaporean. But above all, it is dedicated to our soldiers. This is a place where all of us can come together to appreciate our Army’s rich heritage, honour those who came before us, and be moved to build on their legacy of peace and security.