This is his country, this is his happiness
With the energy of a teenager, retiree Lee Ling Suah, 63, proudly waved a Singapore flag and sang along to songs like Count On Me, Singapore.
He said: "I couldn't be happier to be here. I've been trying to get tickets to a National Day Parade for so long.
"I can't even remember how many times I've tried. I'm just glad I made it to one especially since I'm getting older."
When asked which part of the parade he liked best, he said without missing a beat: "The sing-a-long sessions!"
Mr Lee, who was there with his wife, son and grandson, said of the parade: "It felt like I was part of a big family. We were all so united - whether we were Malay, Indian or Chinese. It was very heart-warming."
He added that Singapore has changed a lot in the past 50 years.
"I used to live near Old Kallang Road where there were gangsters. It was a dangerous time. Now the country is so safe. I'm very proud to be Singaporean."
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now