Kochi: The Armed Forces Veterans’ Day was commemorated by Southern Naval Command (SNC) at Kochi on January 14.

Commodore NAJ Joseph, Commanding Officer, INS Venduruthy and the Station Commander, Kochi along with the Veterans from all three Services laid a wreath at the War Memorial inside naval base, Kochi. This was followed by a Veterans Online Rally, chaired by Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, SNC.

A total of 30 ex-servicemen from the Army, Air Force and Navy, settled post retirement in and around Kochi, attended the event, which served to remind both serving and retired personnel of the supreme sacrifice made by their brothers in arms towards the defence of the nation. Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan (Retd), the present President of the Navy Foundation, Kochi Charter, was the senior-most veteran present.

Armed Forces Veterans Day is observed on this day every year since 2017 as a mark of respect and recognition of the services rendered by Field Marshal KM Cariappa OBE – the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces who retired on January 14, 1953 is meant to commemorate the selfless devotion and sacrifice of veterans; many of whom laid down their lives in service of the nation and also to salute the indomitable spirit of those personnel who served the Indian Armed Forces with pride and honour. The event also serves to strengthen the bond between serving personnel and the veterans.

The day was also commemorated in Visakhapatnam with a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the War Memorial by Capt Vijay Singh, Officer-in-Charge Naval Coastal Battery on behalf of ENC. Commander MSMK Sarma (Retd) and (Dr) Chandra Shekhar P (Retd) Master Chief Petty Officer (Medical) from Navy Foundation and Veteran Sailors Forum respectively also laid the wreaths at the War Memorial. Ceremonial Guard was paraded at the venue and a two-minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect to the personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice.