Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the National War Memorial near India Gate in New Delhi today.

The memorial will honour soldiers who have laid down their lives in the service for the country since Independence.

More than 25,000 soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces have made the supreme sacrifice to defend the country’s sovereignty and integrity.

In his Mann Ki Baat Programme on All India Radio, Prime Minister asserted that it will be a small step towards repaying a great debt of country’s Armed Forces.

Mr Modi said, the Memorial, which is in close vicinity of India Gate and Amar Jawan Jyoti, is a symbol of the nation’s gratitude to those who made the supreme sacrifice after the country gained Independence.

Prime Minister expressed hope that for the countrymen a visit to the Memorial will be akin to a pilgrimage to a holy place, where people will throng, to get information on the great martyrs, to express their gratitude and to conduct further research on them.

AIR Correspondent reports that in 2014, Prime Minister had spelt out his vision for the National War Memorial as a state-of-the-art world class monument. It represents the gratitude of a nation to its Armed Forces.

The National War Memorial also commemorates the soldiers who participated and made the supreme sacrifice in Peace Keeping Missions and Counter Insurgency Operations.

The layout of the Memorial comprises four concentric circles, Amar Chakra  Circle of Immortality, the Veerta Chakra Circle of Bravery, the Tyag Chakra Circle of Sacrifice, and the Rakshak Chakra or Circle of Protection.

The complex includes a central obelisk, an eternal flame and six bronze murals depicting famous battles fought by Indian Army, Air Force and Navy.

Busts of the 21 awardees of Param Veer Chakra have been installed at Param Yoddha Sthal. The memorial will help strengthen the sense of belonging, high moral values, sacrifice and national pride in the citizens.

It stands testimony to the sacrifices made by the soldiers during various conflicts, United Nations Operations, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response operations since Independence.

The Memorial complex is in harmony with the existing layout and symmetry of the majestic Rajpath and Central Vista.