THE 21-gun Presidential Salute held spectators at Marina Bay entranced for five minutes. The 25-pounder ceremonial guns were fired from a floating platform - one of many firsts in this year's National Day Parade - giving the audience a full view.

Lieutenant Kelvin Soh, 22, barked orders for the five guns to fire at 60-second intervals as President S R Nathan inspected the front row of the marching contingents, for the 10th time in the parade's history.

This year, 2,000 people - from the armed forces and police, as well as uniformed and civilian groups - marched together. Appearing as a sea of red, blue and white from a distance, they symbolised Singapore's success in defending the homeland over the past 44 years.

The display was perfected through the hard work of Lt Soh and his team of 40 national servicemen, who began their day at 12.30pm lifting the 1.5-tonne artillery weapons onto a bridge docked at the Police Coast Guard's Brani Base HQ. They later made their way to the Singapore Flyer and motored to one side of the main stage.

'We fired the guns while floating on water - a first for any National Day Parade and a thrill for any observer,' said Captain Melvin Goh, 29, who oversaw the operations.

Since the men began training in March, they have put in 96 hours learning ceremonial drills and gun-handling skills, Lt Soh said.

Taking part in the parade for the first time, he was elated to have the chance to command the firing.

Property executive Celeste Lok, 24, one of 81 civilians involved in the 25 marching contingents, said: 'It was about celebrating our nation's birthday... You can feel the passion and want to be part of it.'