Project 3/12: A Nation Remembers

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To commemorate Singapore’s 50th anniversary of self-governance, the National Heritage Board’s Education & Outreach Division has launched travelling exhibition Project 3/12: A Nation Remembers and a revised National Symbols Kit on 3rd December 2009.

What do these 18 Singaporeans have in common? They were all born on 3rd December 1959!

While many would remember 9rd August 1965 as National Day, it was 50 years ago on 3rd December 1959, Thursday at 10am that a significant milestone in Singapore’s history was made. Not only were our first three National Symbols  - the National Flag, State Crest and the National Anthem - were unveiled, but Encik Yusof bin Ishak was installed as our first Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State) at the City Hall Chambers.

This momentous day which marks Singapore’s first step towards the road of independence is celebrated in the Project 3/12 exhibtion through stories that showcase the progress and transformation Singapore has made in the last 50 years. Featuring 28 Singaporeans born on 3 December between 1959 and 1989, their recollections and thoughts of Singapore’s journey to self-governance also celebrates the values that brought us to where we are today.

“Project 3/12 has uncovered the very real stories of Singaporeans who have experienced the major historical events of our nation, and our working team has been very inspired by their raw anecdotes demonstrating their resilience which has enabled them to overcome so much over the years,” says Ms Thangamma Karthigesu, Director of the Education and Outreach Division of NHB. She also believes that the exhibtion is about the Singaporean Spirit and visitors will see a side of Singapore’s history through the eyes of the average Singaporean and not that of a historian’s.

The exhibition will travel to Central Public Library where it will be on display from 4the December 2009 to 3rd January 2010, after which it will make its rounds to schools and shopping malls. Also launched with this exhibition is the National Symbols Kit which will contain a flag, Lion Head collar pin, the National Anthem audio CD amongst other items. An initial 5,000 kits will be produced and distributed to all major bookstores starting January 2010 and will retail at $26.65.

These participants - 18 of whom born in 1959 - responded to a public call by NHB in September this year in search of Singaporeans born on 3rd December. Read more about their stories on www.mystory.sg.

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