National Day Parade 2015 kicks off

SINGAPORE - The National Day Parade (NDP) 2015, in celebration of Singapore's 50th anniversary of independence, kicked off at about 5.40pm with a rendition of classic NDP song Home by local band The Sam Willows.

However, there was bad news for the crowd when it was announced that the Singapore Armed Forces Red Lions would not be able to execute their parachute jump due to bad weather conditions.

One of the highlights of this year's NDP was the "vintage parade", featuring veterans from the Singapore Armed Forces, the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force in their old uniforms.

A Singapore Airlines (SIA) Airbus A380, with a special Singapore flag-themed design, also made an aerial flypast, marking the first time SIA has participated in NDP.

There was also a solemn tribute to Singapore's founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away in March this year. Mr Lee had attended every NDP since the inaugural one in 1966.

About 26,000 people filled the Padang for NDP 2015, with some trickling in as early as 3pm, reported The Straits Times.

Various foreign leaders and dignitaries also attended the parade, including Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, and Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

seanyap@sph.com.sg