SINGAPORE – Despite the downpour turning the ceremonial white No. 1 uniforms translucent, the soldiers of the Presidential Gun Salute (PGS) crew stood stoic by their four 25-pounder Howitzer guns as they roared at 6.45pm on July 18.
The heavy rain could not drown out the clockwork commands of the conducting officer, as all 19 shots of the rehearsal gun salute were fired in perfect succession.
About 15 minutes before the gun salute began, the banks on either side of the Kallang Basin – where the iconic tradition of the presidential gun salute will be held for the first time this National Day – were dotted with umbrellas as a light drizzle began.
Some 300 to 400 members of the public had gathered to witness the gun salute. The phalanx of umbrellas was broken only by the waving of hands as onlookers cheered and greeted the soldiers on board the Mobility 3rd Generation raft.
It was a preview of what crowds will see come Aug 9 as Singapore celebrates its 61st year of independence.
The gun salute will take place about 200m from the National Stadium, where the National Day Parade (NDP) will be held. There are 151 participants from the 23rd Battalion, Singapore Artillery, and 35th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers.
Speaking to media before the July 18 rehearsal kicked off, Major Chin Wei Jian said Kallang Basin was chosen as the location for the presidential gun parade in 2026 so the public who are unable to attend the parade in the National Stadium can still feel the impact and see the firing live.
The last time the NDP celebrations were held at the National Stadium was in 2016. That year, the presidential gun salute was conducted at the Home of Athletics, which was formerly known as the Kallang Practice Track, said Chin, who is the chairman of the iconic gun salute in 2026.
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