AFVOA Newletters of Year 2013

Page 8 of 61 and the Germans. Many thousands perished. What emerged from the blood and gore, death and destruction, was the call from those who gave their lives for their country. Made the supreme sacrifice. Let me read the poem to you. In Flanders Fields by John McCrae In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place, and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below We are the dead; short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe! To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high! If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. We are here today so that we may not break faith with those who have given their lives in the service of the motherland, men and women in the uniformed forces, proud Indians who believed that their lives are never too precious, when it came to giving it for the country. We remember them today. We hold them dearly in our hearts and wish to tell them that a grateful country cherishes their memory and proudly recalls their valiant deeds. The steely determination to face all odds and fight to the last man and last round is epitomized by Maj Shaitan Singh, who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award in Independent India for his exemplary leadership and devotion to duty. On that November day in 1962, his company with 123 men was deployed at Rezang La in Ladakh. It was a cold wintry night and light snow was falling. At 17000 feet, even breathing was difficult. Here our heroes fought tenaciously with complete disregard to their lives. In the process, Shaitan Singh was killed, so also 108 others from his Company. Of the 14 survivors, 9 were severely injured. How many tears can we shed for such heroes of ours? How many wreaths do we lay for such heroes of ours? How many salutes, how many bugles, how many tributes, how many remembrances. Glory that is associated with those in uniform is a special privilege. It is the privilege extended to a few, those in the military, in the para military, the police, the fire