Exactly one year ago, on the 23rd of March, Singapore’s founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away.

And no doubt, many Singaporeans will be using this week to reflect on the legacy of Mr Lee and everything that he has left behind for Singapore. In fact thousands of Singaporeans have been, and will be marking his passing at special commemorative events all around Singapore, in their own special ways.

Remembrance events across Singapore to mark Mr Lee’s passing

For instance, a remembrance event had been held recently at Tanjong Pagar – and this was attended by more than 1,500 Singaporeans who had come to pay their respects. And from now till March 27, there are also currently panels on display at Duxton Plain Park, which highlight Mr Lee’s legacy and all that he has left behind for Singapore.

As well, a local running group, the Peirce Reservoir Runners (PRR), are even holding a 10km commemorative run this weekend to mark the passing of Singapore’s founding father, and encouraging all runners to come dressed in either black or white.

As runners, the PRR group probably think that it is most significant to mark the passing of Singapore’s founding father, by partaking in the sport that they know best. But at the same time, this is also meaningful as Mr Lee himself had been a huge advocate of sports during his lifetime, and thus the driving force behind the growth of sports in Singapore. Sometimes he was even seen on Singapore’s streets, engaging in running himself, during his twilight years.

Shows the impact that Mr Lee has had on Singaporeans 

I feel that all of these events show how much of an impact Mr Lee has had on Singaporeans. Rarely has the death of a leader had so much respect and affection, as Mr Lee has garnered in Singapore.

In fact, I still remember those mammoth queues of eight to ten hours long, that Singaporeans had joined last year, to pay their respects to Singapore’s founding father. Yet despite the length of time required for queuing, many Singaporeans remained extremely gracious and furthermore, businesses around the area had even been helping the queuers, providing complimentary food and drinks to them, so that the queuing would feel more bearable for those standing or sitting in line.

Singaporeans have much to be grateful to Mr Lee, for

All the respect and attention garnered by Mr Lee, had possibly been largely due to the influence that Mr Lee had, in changing Singapore into the first-world metropolis that she is known today as. Indeed, all Singaporeans alike, can truly be grateful for what he has done for our little island-nation.

And especially for the older generation of Singaporeans, who had lived through the tumultuous times of Singapore’s merger with Malaysia and the uncertainty of independence, they will surely be grateful for all the change that they have witnessed in Singapore, and seen how our city-state has grown tremendously.

Young Singaporeans too, also have much to be grateful for – it is all thanks to Mr Lee, that we are able to live comfortably today, with a roof over our heads, as well as having all of our basic needs such as safety, adequate food and clean water, met.

Yes, no matter what, Singaporeans will always remember Mr Lee Kuan Yew for everything that he has done for this “little red dot.”

Passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew

Runners Complete 91km for Mr Lee

A Long Waiting Time to pay respects to Mr Lee

Mr Lee’s Passing brought Singaporeans together