Uday Singh remembered at Arlington National Cemetery
Forty followers of the Sikh faith solemnly gathered to remember one of
their own, Sergeant Uday Singh, at the respected grounds of Arlington
National Cemetery on a cold Saturday morning. Singh, a member of the
United States Army, died at the age of 21 after a fierce firefight with
insurgents in Habbaniyah, Iraq on December 1st, 2003, while serving in
Operation Iraqi Freedom. He became the first Sikh American of Indian
descent to give his life while serving in the United States Armed
Services. As a request made by the American Government to honor Singh's
sacrifice, a portion of his cremated ashes were buried at Arlington
National Cemetery. Sgt. Singh's memorial tombstone marker was etched
with the Khanda, Sikhism's religious symbol.
"I could not have asked for anything better than this." remarked
24-year-old Harinder Singh Matharoo, one of the many college aged Sikh
youth members from the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area who helped to
organize the event. In particular, the tragic demise of Sgt. Singh has
given hope to the Sikh community living in the aftermath of 9/11. Many
Sikhs have faced harassment and hate crimes all due to their unique
identity of turbans and uncut hair, and sometimes confused as Muslim
extremists, who have been shown through various forms of media.
Co-organizer, Sartaj Singh Dhami, stated that "The days of unwanted
turmoil towards the Sikhs in our country has ended thanks to Sgt.
Singh's ultimate sacrifice." Singh was remembered at the memorial event
as a young man looking for new opportunities and a better life in
America, a common story shared by many Indian immigrants. Singh had a
humble beginning in the United States, working at a local McDonald's
restaurant in Lake Forest, IL.
He decided to join the United States Army as a way to pay for college and to earn U.S.
citizenship in an expedited manner. This choice was easy for Singh due
to his strong family history in the Indian Army and Air Force.
Damanpreet Kaur, one of the Sikh youth speakers, candidly shared that
Singh upheld "the Sikh beliefs under the American flag, the stars and
stripes that unite us Sikhs, with all Americans. Uday Singh traveled to
a place where people lived in fear and did not have the same basic
freedom granted by the United Nations. Together, with fellow Americans
from all walks of life, he fought for principles of peace and justice,
akin to the forefathers of this country."
The event especially hit home for one local Sikh. Army Staff Sgt.
Hardeep Singh Saini, 32, who is currently awaiting orders on a return
mission to the Persian Gulf, remarked that, "It is always difficult to
come to this sacred ground to see your fellow soldiers remembered like
this, especially one of your own." Saini actually keeps the newspaper
clipping of Sgt. Singh's passing one year ago, published in the U.S.
Military's "Stars and Stripes".
"Thank you for this opportunity to help in honoring the life of Sgt.
Uday Singh," Co-organizer Sunmit Singh said aloud to the crowd, reading
a letter he received from U.S. Congressmen Albert Wynn, representative
of the 4th Congressional District of the state of Maryland. Wynn wrote,
"Sgt. Singh dedicated service to our country and his ultimate sacrifice
is unfortunately one of the costs that patriots have paid over the years
to promote democracy and world peace. I understand his sacrifice is a
tremendous loss to his family, friends, fellow soldiers, and the many
Sikh Americans who feel his loss."
Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council On Religion & Education,
said that "Sgt. Uday Singh's bravery and inspiration would not just be
remembered by Sikhs of our Nation, but by all Americans who cherish the
rights of freedom. Uday's sacrifice will only strengthen the
contributions of Sikhs to America."
An email was read from Sgt. Singh's family from India. His father,
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Preet Mahinder Singh, sent his gratitude by
saying that the remembrance program for Uday has allowed the family's
grief and pain to be lessened.
The highlight of the event came when religious holy Sikh scriptures were
sung (also referred to as kirtan) alongside Uday's tombstone by the
youth congregation from Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, located in
Rockville, MD. Led by Navjeet Kaur and Harjot Singh, this was the first
time ever that Sikh religious hymns were performed on the grounds of
Arlington National Cemetery. The Sikh head priest of Guru Gobind Singh
Foundation, Bhai Gurdarshan Singh, offered prayers that America's
leaders would never forget the sacrifice of Sgt. Uday Singh, as well as
all of those who have given their lives, in America's current struggle
in Iraq.
Singh was always known to put his fellow soldiers in his platoon first
before himself. Therefore, at the end of the program, the gathered Sikh
congregation paid homage to Sgt. Uday Singh by laying flowers and
American flags on all the adjacent graves nearby.
While speaking on the impact of the day's events, Dhami ended his
thoughts with this final note: "Regardless of how you wish to remember
Sgt. Singh, whether as a person of Indian decent, or a follower of the
Sikh faith, he gave his life for his Country as an American. Sikhs no
longer have to be defensive in educating fellow Americans about there
faith, but rather tell the story of Sgt. Uday Singh."
The Sikh congregation consisted of representatives from Sikh Foundation
of Virginia, Guru Nanak Foundation of America, Singh Sabha Gurudwara of
Virginia, and Guru Gobind Singh Foundation.
