25/05/2004

uniformed.

from the straits times interactive.

Don't forget to salute our brave men in uniform

AS A United States citizen and Singapore Permanent Resident, I hope that all Singaporeans fully comprehend the sacrifice made by the Republic of Singapore Air Force pilot, Lieutenant Brandon Loo Kwang Han, 25, who died recently while training in an F-16 aircraft in the state of Arizona in the US ('RSAF pilot dies while living out his dream'; ST, May 22).

I love my fellow Singaporeans, but all too often they become complacent about the freedom they enjoy. It must be clearly understood that the freedom Singapore enjoys is because brave Singaporeans in the armed forces protect that freedom every single day, every single minute and every single second.

The freedom that Singapore enjoys as a nation is contingent on those in the armed forces willing to make the ultimate sacrifice and we now have seen a brave Singaporean RSAF pilot do just that for his nation while training to defend it. I would encourage all Singaporeans to say 'thank you' the next time they see a member of the armed forces in uniform. Thank them for protecting your home, for making a sacrifice, and for protecting Singapore's freedom as a nation.

JONATHAN V. GALAVIZ

President

Singapore Association of Nevada

took this from the straits times forum page. isn't it so true? we singaporeans take everything for granted, we think our freedom will be there forever and noone can take it away from us, we think that we're always safe from any threat. we seem to have forgotten how hard our grandparents fought for our freedom and the price they paid for it.

my brother is in NS now and i can see how hard the soldiers train everyday. they train to protect us, protect our future, to ensure that our children have a safe and free home to grow up in. but we've taken them for granted and we think they'll always be there to protect us. noone acknowledges the sacrifices made by these young men. we need a UNITED STATES citizen to remind us of this fact.

i think we should remember these uniformed men yeah? remember them, and thank God so hard that Singapore has such good people like them to protect us.

kenny wrote this at 8:34 p.m.