A Founders' Memorial for Singapore's leaders: A look at how great leaders are honoured in other places

SINGAPORE - The committee tasked to come up with a concept for a Founders' Memorial that honours Singapore's first generation of political leaders will hold dialogues to get views from the public.

There will be eight sessions that will run from Oct 31 to Dec 15, and those keen to attend can sign up at www.foundersmemorial.sg

The idea of a Founders' Memorial to honour Singapore's first generation of political leaders was floated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Parliament in April, a month after founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew died on March 23.

The memorial committee was formed on June 30 to come up with a concept for a memorial to honour the founding leaders' values and ideals and inspire future generations.

Here's a look at how some other countries and territories remember their leaders:

Homes converted into museums: A number of US presidents have had their homes turned into museums.

These include Mount Vernon, the estate of George Washington, America's first President. He served from 1789 to 1797, and died two years after leaving office. The Virginia estate has been open to the public since 1860.

Monticello, the home of the third US President, Thomas Jefferson, is also a museum open to the public. Mr Jefferson, a philosopher, scientist, historian and architect, designed Monticello.

Monuments and memorials in National Mall: There are dozens of statues, and memorials dedicated to George Washington across the US, including the Washington Monument in the nation's capital city, which is itself named after George Washington. The Washington Memorial is a 169-metre obelisk, and it stands opposite the Lincoln Memorial, where a marble sculpture of the 16th US President, Abraham Lincoln sits.

Both are sited within the National Mall, along with the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. Roosevelt, who was president for four terms, led the US through the Great Depression, and World War II. There was some controversy about whether he should be depicted in a wheelchair, as he hid his disability from the public while he was in office.

Mount Rushmore: There is, of course, Mount Rushmore which has the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln carved into the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Winston Churchill Memorial Trusts: The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust in Britain was established in 1965, immediately after the death of the British Prime Minister. It funds the travels of Britons who seek to pursue new and better ways of tackling challenges faced by the United Kingdom. Those chosen are known as Churchill Fellows. New Zealand and Australia have similar trusts.

There is also a Churchill Centre dedicated to preserving his historic legacy. More conventional honours accorded to the wartime leader include a museum and many statues, the most prominent being a bronze sculpture at London's Parliament Square. Churchill personally chose the spot.

There are also numerous objects and places named after him, including two British Navy warships.

Hughenden Manor: The homes of British leaders have not generally been open to the public. The exception is that of Victorian Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, who lived at Hughenden Manor in Buckinghamshire from 1848 to 1881. A statue of the earl also stands in Parliament Square.

Charles de Gaulle Airport: President Charles de Gaulle, who ruled France from 1959 to 1969, wanted no statues or museums erected in his name. His simple tombstone, located in his hometown of Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises in north-eastern France, is inscribed "Charles de Gaulle 1890-1970".

France has largely ignored his wishes, naming the country's largest airport after him, and turning his home into a museum.

There is a vast bronze statue showing de Gaulle marching purposely on Paris'on the Champs-Elysees.

Deng Xiaoping Memorial Hall: A bronze statue of Deng Xiaoping was erected on his 100th bithday in 2004 in his hometown, Sichuan city of Guang'an. The town also hosts the Deng Xiaoping Memorial Hall, which is sited in the former residence of Mr Deng.

A statue of the statesman, who died in 1997, stands in Shenzhen as a reminder of his role in opening up and developing the southern province's economy.

There was also a television series on Deng's life broadcast last year to commemorate his 110th birthday.

National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: The Hall was planned immediately after the death of Chiang Kai-shek, a strongman President who ruled Taiwan from 1950 till his death in 1975.

It was built in 1980, and in later years, became the site of many pro-democracy protests.

In the early 2000s, when Chiang's Kuomingtang lost power to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), violence broke out as the DPP attempted to rename the memorial the "Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall".

The original name was restored, but the plaza in front of the memorial is now named "Liberty Square".

Children's Day: The birthday of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, November 14, is celebrated as Children's Day each year in memory of his dedication to education and development of young people.

There are numerous foundations and institutions dedicated to him, including the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, and a museum. The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund awards fellowships to scholars of both the sciences and the humanities.

The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library and the Fund are housed in his former residence the Teen Murti Bhavan.

chuimin@sph.com.sg