National Day Parade (NDP) 2009 Theme: Come Together - Reaching Out. Reaching Up.

Inspired by Our Pledge, the theme for this year Nation’s 44th Birthday is " Come Together - Reaching Out.Reaching Up". It is a celebration of our nationalhood, and of what it means to be Singaporean. It is about unity. It is about looking beyond today and moving forward together with hope and confidence.

The NDP committee has refreshed this year's NDP format. The parade will commence an hour later at 6pm and the parade and show is integrated as one show that will enact ideals from Our Pledge and Singaporeans will also see a night ceremonial parade accompanied by a Presidential Gun Salute executed in a way not seen before. Last but not least,a spectacular Total Defence Display to mark Singapore 25 years of Total Defence.

One of the areas of focus this year's parade includes raising awareness for less privileged Singaporeans, and to work with charity organisations and other agencies such as National Council of Social Services (NCSS) to reach out and help the various groups and seek ways by which they can contribute directly to NDP itself. For example, the various groups will be helping to pack the NDP fun-packs and will personalise them with their greetings and names. Singaporeans should learn to appreciate the work done by the less privileged Singaporeans.

The committee will be using New Media such as Facebook, Flickr and YouTube in a big way to bring more Singaporeans together. The NDP09 website was launched where the public can register online to customise their own NDP Homepage, take part contests and stand to win attractive prizes. There will be photo contests to allow Singaporeans to capture their interpretation of the Pledge. Concerts, exhibitions and mass participation activities are also planned in collaboration with other organisations to allow more Singaporeans to partake in celebrating our National Day journey together.

"Despite economic crisis,it will still be a solid show for Singaporeans to enjoy." said Chairman of the executive committee Brigadier General Tan Chuan Jin.

For more information, please visit the NDP 2009 website at www.ndp.org.sg

Header Photo: NDP 2009 Logo

Top Photo: Our Flag

Middle Photo: Total Defence Display

Bottom Photo: Our Pledge

Photos by Eugene Tang/SingaporeSights. All Rights Reserved.