20th annual wreath laying ceremony was carried out at Noida Shaheed Smarak with military precision with tri service guard, buglers and band in attendance on Friday. When the heroic story of their beloved was recalled and martyr’s family members were called to lay a wreath, there was a numbness in the eyes of families of martyrs.
At 1000 hours, the chief guest, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC, Chief of the Air Staff, paid homage followed by Major General Alok Kacker, COS, Delhi Area; Maj Gen PR Murli, ADG (Arty) and Rear Admiral IB Uthaiah, VSM, ADG (Tech) (SEABIRD) representing Indian Army and Indian Navy respectively.
Thereafter, next of kin of 28 gallant martyrs, Wing Cdr AN Hanfee, VRC, for the unknown soldiers, Lt Gen GL Bakshi, Chairman of Sanstha, Col Mahender Kumar, Chairman AVI, Col IP Singh and Col Pardaman Singh, President of AVRWA and AVCC respectively; Cmde Gurnam Singh, President JVCC and AVM Pradeep Kumar, Chairman and JVSAS; Jyoti Rana , Principal, Army Public School, Noida and Mrs Dina Singh, Principal, Social Outreach Foundation School Noida; Kanwar Rudraansh Singh, playing for U19, Indian football team and Khush Sharma, No 1 , UP tennis player, both students of Army Public School; civil dignitaries, IAS and IPS officers, defence personnel, veterans, and common citizens laid the wreath.
Earlier, the chief guest was received by the Chairman, Lt Gen GL Bakshi and the Executive Director, Lt Gen SK Singh. The ceremonial tri service guard and buglers led by Squadron Leader Deepak Kumar carried out the procedure with military precision.
The chief guest interacted with the families of martyrs and distributed gifts to NOKs of PBOR on behalf of the sanstha.
During interaction with the media, Cdr Narinder Mahajan intimated that the event has been solely organised and coordinated by a retired defence fraternity, who all are above the age of 70 years. He also informed that a candle light ceremony will be held on April 13, 2021, the day the memorial was dedicated to the nation by then, three Services Chiefs.
On April 13, 2002, only a tri-service memorial in the country was dedicated to the nation. It has been built by the residents of Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida. It is an eloquent tribute and homage to the martyrs of Gautam Budh Nagar. It is situated on Shaheed Smarak Marg, opposite Army Public School in Sector 29, Noida.
The memorial has become an iconic landmark of Noida. Vintage equipment like the 40 mm long 60 Air Defence Guns, model of warship INS Chennai, Naval Surface-to-Air missiles, and an ISKRA jet Trainer aircraft of polish origin are part of the memorial.
The Landscaping of the place is a feast to the eye with beautiful Dhoop Grass and a six foot wide pathway running all the way around.
