Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 15

Headquarters Western Command commemorated the 70th Army Day at Chandimandir today by paying homage to the soldiers who laid down their lives in the line of duty.Army Day is observed each year to mark the taking over of the reins of the Indian Army by the first Indian Commander-in-Chief, Late Field Marshal KM Cariappa, who succeeded the last British Commander-in-Chief in India, General Francis Roy Butcher on this day in 1948.In a solemn ceremony, Lt Gen GS Dhillon, Chief of Staff, Western Command, laid the wreath at the Veer Smriti war memorial on behalf of all ranks of the Command. Addressing the troops, he exhorted all ranks to strive for professional excellence and uphold the highest traditions of the Indian Army.BJYM pays homage to martyrsThe Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) paid homage to the martyrs and saluted the soldiers on Army Day at Shastri Market in Sector 22.On the occasion, Chandigarh party president Gaurav Goel said, “A day is not enough to express our gratitude to our soldiers for guarding us 24 hours and 365 days. Joining the Army is not a profession, but a passion to be ready to sacrifice everything for the nation.”