UDHAGAMANDALAM: The 98th birth anniversary of Field Marshal Manekshaw was commemorated by laying of a new gravestone at Parsee Zoroastrian Cemetery in Ooty on Tuesday.A prayer service by the Field Marshal’s family and a military memorial service were conducted. After the prayer, wreaths were placed by Defence Minister AK Antony, Chief of Army Staff Gen VK Singh, Army Chief Designate Lt Gen Bikram Singh, Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen SK Singh, General Officer Commander (Southern Command) Lt Gen AK Singh, Collector Archana Patnaik and two daughters of Mankeshaw, Sherry Batliwala and Maja Daruwala. A two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect. The ceremony comprised of the traditional presentation of arms by a special guard of Madras Regimental Centre, sounding of the last post and rouse by the Band of Madras Regimental Centre. Manekshaw participated in World War II, three wars against Pakistan and the 1962 Indo-China War. Manekshaw was appointed the 8th Chief of Army Staff in 1969, was the first officer to hold the highest rank of Field Marshal in Indian Army. The rank was conferred upon him on January 1, 1973. The Field Marshall was also awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1972. He died on June 27, 2008.Antony recorded in a notebook at the cemetery that he salutes Manekshaw who made every Indian proud through his heroic services.
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