The artillery shell casings from the 21-gun salute, fired during the state funeral of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew last March, have been given to 21 organisations and individuals.

The gift is to express "my deep thanks to all of them for the roles they played in my father's life and for their contributions to the nation", said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a Facebook post yesterday.

Those given the casings include national agencies such as the Singapore Armed Forces and People's Association (PA) as well as individuals who delivered eulogies at the funeral service, like Old Guard leader and former education minister Ong Pang Boon.

Mr Lee died on March 23 at age 91.

The week-long national mourning and state funeral "were an intense and emotional experience for us all", PM Lee said.

To honour him, a 21-gun salute was fired from four Howitzer guns at the Padang - the site of many historic events - by gunners from the 21st Battalion, Singapore Artillery.

Said PM Lee: "I asked the SAF to collect the 21 artillery shell casings, to be presented to people, institutions and organisations that were closely linked to Mr Lee."

Yesterday, about 600 PA staff, grassroots leaders and volunteers gathered at its headquarters in King George's Avenue, to witness the memento being handed to PA's deputy chairman Chan Chun Sing and chief executive director Ang Hak Seng.

Both men then placed the shell casing on a shelf near the entrance of the headquarters.

Mr Chan, who is also the labour chief, said he hoped the memento will be a reminder to all grassroots leaders and volunteers of the PA's mission to continue to build a cohesive society, regardless of people's backgrounds and differences.

He urged them to anticipate challenges, take care of residents, be bold and turn every constraint into an opportunity to ensure Singapore can be "even better than what we have been".

The shell casings can also be viewed by people at other places.

The Housing Board said its gift is on display at the HDB Gallery in the HDB Hub in Toa Payoh.

Its chief executive Cheong Koon Hean said Mr Lee was the key driver of public housing.

"His vision of a home-owning society has given Singaporeans a tangible stake in the nation. Without his vision, Singaporeans today would not have a home they can call their own, upon which they can build their family and lives."

The National Parks Board (NParks) will display its shell casing at the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Museum from today.

NParks chief executive Kenneth Er said it was Mr Lee's vision to turn Singapore into a Garden City.

"We will strive to continue his legacy and sustain his vision, working with the community to transform Singapore into a City in a Garden," he said.

Among the individual recipients, some donated the casings to public and community organisations.