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State Funeral procession for Mr Lee Kuan Yew begins

SINGAPORE — As the rain poured down, the State Funeral procession for Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew started at 12.30pm today (March 29).

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SINGAPORE — As the rain poured down, the State Funeral procession for Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew started at 12.30pm today (March 29).

The Coffin Bearer Party carried Mr Lee’s casket out of the Parliament House, where he had been lying in state since Wednesday, and placed it inside the Gun Carriage. As the cortege left the Parliament House, the crowd waiting outside chanted: “Lee Kuan Yew! Lee Kuan Yew!”. The Guard of Honour contingent, unfazed by the heavy rain, marched along with Mr Lee’s funeral procession. 

When the cortege reached the Padang, the 21-gun salute by four ceremonial 25-pounder howitzers sounded for Mr Lee. Members of the crowd stood in the rain, umbrellas down as a show of respect for Mr Lee.

Outside of the National Day Parade, the 21-Gun Salute was last accorded in honour of then-President Dr Benjamin Henry Sheares during his state funeral in 1981.

As the cortege passed City Hall, the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Black Knights flew a Missing Man Formation, where one aircraft leaves the four-aircraft flying formation as an aerial salute to honour the late Mr Lee. The formation, a tradition dating back to World War I, is used as a solemn aerial salute to honour deceased dignitaries or military aircrew. 

Republic of Singapore Navy vessels conducted a ceremonial sail-pass in the waters off the Marina Barrage, as the cortege moved along the Esplanade Bridge and made its way along Shenton Way. All the while, shouts of “Lee Kuan Yew!” followed the cortege. 

Mr Lee's funeral procession will cover a distance of 15.4km, passing significant landmarks, such as Old Parliament House, City Hall and the Padang, as well as heartland areas, en route to the University Cultural Centre at the National University of Singapore.

Healthcare worker Dorothy Pang, 53, waiting along Raffles Quay to bid farewell to Mr Lee. "That feeling of unity, it is really emotional,” she said.

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