National Day Parade at Marina Bay 2008
PARADE AND CEREMONY

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Teo

Traditional items like the RSAF F16s’ bomb burst, Feu-de-Joie and the 21 Presidential Gun Salute will continue to be featured. But variations will be seen in the various segments of the parade to present a refreshing experience to the spectators, as well as viewers at home. The parade will be a 3-dimensional one with the parade participants forming up on the various levels on the 3-tiered stage. The parade will also be brought up close to the spectators with the Guard-Of-Honour (GOH) contingents forming up on the extended promenade right in front of the spectator gallery.

During the Parade and Ceremony segment, 4 songs will be sung by a 380-strong Combined Schools Choir conducted by Mr Lennie Chua. The graceful dance movements of the choir members are choreographed by dance instructor. Ms Sylvia McCully, made up of students from 10 secondary schools: Compassvale Secondary School, Coral Secondary School, Greenview Secondary School, Monfort Secondary School, Queenstown Secondary School, Saint Margaret’s Secondary School, Siglap Secondary School, Woodsgrove Secondary School, Yishun Secondary School and Yishun Town Secondary School.

The SAF Band has always been one of the key features in past parades. This year, the Band will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary. To mark this remarkable milestone, the Band will once again be leading the march-in of the 28 Marching Contingents, a feature which has not been showcased since the 1980s.

A CH-47D Chinook helicopter, escorted by two Apache attack helicopters, will stage a fly-past of the State Flag across the Floating Platform (FP) during the singing of the National Anthem. Five Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) F-16C will execute a visually spectacular bomb burst, in salute to the Nation.

The 21 Presidential Gun Salute, which will be provided by the ceremonial 25-pounders in front of the Singapore Flyer provides a spectacular view from the Singapore Flyer.