THIRUVANANTHPAURAM: The third 'Armed Forces Veterans Day' Celebrations was organised at Collachel Parade Ground in Pangode Military Station here. The day is commemorated on 14 January each year as a mark of respect to and in recognition of the services rendered by Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa, OBE, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. He led the Indian Forces to victory in the 1947 war, became the Commander-in-Chief on 15 Jan 1949 and retired on 14 Jan 1953.
Veterans from the Army, Navy and Air Force gathered in large numbers to commemorate the event. Air Marshal B. Suresh AVSM VM, AOC-in-C Southern Air Command, senior serving officers and veterans laid wreaths at the War Memorial Pangode, as a mark of respect to the soldiers laid down their lives to safeguard the nation. This was followed by the Armed Forces Veterans Ra-lly at Cariappa Auditorium.
