In A First, Padma Awardees Visit National War Memorial In New Delhi Under An Initiative By Modi Govt

Under an initiative by the PM Modi led Central Government, for the first time Padma Awardees who were honoured on Monday (21 March), were conducted on a visit to the National War Memorial today (22 March), said an official release.

On Monday, President Ram Nath Kovind conferred two Padma Vibhushan, eight Padma Bhushan and 54 Padma Shri Awards for the year 2022 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Today, these Padma Awardees visited the National War Memorial.

According to a Home Ministry release, the awardees went around the memorial and were moved to see the names of the personnel of the Defence Forces who over the years have made the supreme sacrifice and laid down their lives to protect the nation’s borders.

The awardees appreciated the initiative of the government to organise the visit and its efforts to popularise the memorial as a place for people and children to visit in the national capital, the release said.

The awardees, according to the ministry, felt that a visit to the memorial will help in inculcating the values of patriotism, devotion to duty, courage and sacrifice and instil the feeling of nationalism.

The National War Memorial (NWM) was dedicated to the Nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25 February 2019. It stands testimony to the sacrifices made by the gallant soldiers since Independence.

The monument houses the eternal flame which exemplifies the supreme sacrifice made by a soldier in the line of duty thus making him immortal, the Home Ministry release said.

Since its inauguration, all homage ceremonies are conducted only at the NWM, including those on National Days.

Every evening, Next-of-Kin (NoK) ceremony is held during which NoK of a fallen hero lays wreath at the Memorial, remembering the supreme sacrifice made by the soldier, the ministry said.

Dignitaries from home and abroad visit the NWM as part of their schedule and pay homage to the country’s brave hearts, it added.