A unique parade of Ex Servicemen on Vijay Diwas

LOKESH GOSWAMI TENNEWS.IN A unique parade of Ex Servicemen on Vijay Diwas

Ex-Serviceman Parade on Vijay Diwas

Brig. K.G. Behl (Retd.)

President, Emeritus, Dehradun Ex-Services League,

It is a practice in some of the western countries where ex-servicemen are held in high esteem  that ex-servicemen come out on some fixed day  and Parade either in their uniforms or in civil dress with their earned medals and wearing their unit colours or ties. They pass through the main streets and people assemble to cheer them.

This year Brig. R.S. Rawat, President  Uttarakhand Ex-Services League and others arranged such a parade at Parade Ground which was lead by101 years young veteran Col. Inder Singh Rawat, Kirti Chakra.Yhey marched under different Banners  From Parade Ground  they marched to Gandhi Park and placed wreaths and floral tributes at the Kargil War Memorial and merged into a function  which was arranged  to celebrate Vijay Diwas by the Govt. of Uttarakhand through the Directorate of  Sainik Kalyan. the Chief Minister, Hon’ble Sh. Harish Rawat  and the Minister  for Sainik Kalyan Sh. Harak Singh Rawat and many senior officials and Ex-servicemen of all ranks were present.

It was expected that the short Parade held would be cheered by the people around but since it was being arranged for the first time very many people did not know about the parade but some  generous persons came with flowers to cheer up.  Anyhow it’s a good practice which we hope  to continue with confidence that more ex-servicemen will join it next year and people  from all over the town will assemble  to watch this unique parade to cheer  and boost their morale.