Jammu, October 27(Scoop News)- The Tiger Division celebrated Infantry Day with traditional pomp and splendour, at Jammu today. Major General Surinder Singh,the General Officer Commanding Tiger Division laid a floral wreath at the Tiger War Memorial in Jammu Cantt on the occasion. In a solemn yet grand memorial ceremony conducted with full military honours, Major General Surinder Singh, the senior most serving Infantry officer in the garrison, along with serving and veteran officers, JCOs and Jawans, paid homage to the valiant martyrs who had laid down their lives in the service of the nation. As the last post reverberated on the bugles of the Infantry buglers in their colorful regimental regalia, a two-minute solemn silence was observed, in remembrance of the martyrs who had made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. The solemn yet grand ceremony, revived the memories of the gallant Infantry comrades-in-arms, who have valiantly fought and defeated external aggressors on the battle-field over the years, and safeguarded the unity and integrity of our nation, even at the cost of their lives.
27 October is a historic day for the Indian Army, as it was on this day in 1947, that the Army of Independent India undertook its first military operation in J&K and defeated the nefarious designs of the Pak raiders to annex the Kashmir valley. The Infantry Day is celebrated, to commemorate this glorious action of Indian Infantry `the Queen of Battle’, in the post-Independence era. It was on this day that the First Battalion, the Sikh Regiment landed at Srinagar air field. All ranks of Tiger Division fought gallantly, and many gallant officers and men made the supreme sacrifice, while defending the unity and integrity of the country.
After the ceremony at Tiger War Memorial today, an equally grand commemorative ceremony was held at the Jammu & Kashmir State Forces War Memorial, located in the Jammu Garrison. In a wreath laying ceremony, serving and veteran Officers, JCOs and Jawans paid rich tributes to Late Brigadier Rajinder Singh, MVC who had led his forces from the front, by fighting dauntlessly till his last breath, and prevented the Kabayali plunderers from making their way into Kashmir Valley in 1947. For his gallant deed, Brigadier Rajinder Singh was awarded the first Maha Vir Chakra of Independent India.
Addressing the troops on the occasion, Maj Gen Surinder Singh stated that the Infantry man has come a long way today, and his immense courage, unflinching dedication and utmost devotion to duty, has made the entire nation proud. Be it on the frozen heights of the Siachen Glacier, the arid and blazing deserts of Rajasthan or the dense jungles of the North-East region, the Infantry man has always successfully defended the nation’s territorial integrity, and won accolades from the entire nation, Gen Singh added.
The War Memorial ceremony was followed by Special ‘Barakhanas’ organised in the various formations and units in the cantonment, wherein the veterans from the Infantry were honoured guests. The camaraderie and bonhomie between the veterans and the serving officers, JCOs and other ranks, was remarkable. The veterans and their serving comrades, shared their reminiscences from the past, and renewed their bonds of solidarity. A special function was also organized by the Tiger Division, for all Veterans and serving Infantry officers and other eminent guests, at the Usman Officers Institute, to commemorate the occasion.
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