Armed Forces Veterans' Day celebrated by the Armed Forces across the country on Sunday. <br/><br/>Minister of State for Defence Dr Subhash Bhamre inaugurated the main event at Delhi Cantt. <br/><br/>The day is commemorated in the memory of first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Field Marshal K M Cariappa becoming a veteran in 1953.<br/> <br/>Speaking on the occasion Dr Bhamre said, the nation is proud of the selfless devotion to duty and the sacrifices of the Armed Forces personnel. <br/><br/>The Minister said, it is only due to the formidable Armed Forces, each and every citizen of India, today is brimming with unstinted faith and confidence to face the world with pride.<br/> <br/>Dr Bhamre also released a new and improved version of the Ex Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme, ECHS Card on the occasion. <br/><br/>Secretary, Ex Servicemen Welfare Smt Sanjeevanee Kutty spoke to the gathering about the new initiatives being undertaken to ameliorate problems being faced by Ex-Servicemen. <br/><br/>Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa and senior officials of the Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence were present on the occasion.<br/> <br/>Earlier, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, Lt Gen Satish Dua laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti along with veterans from the Army, Navy and the Air Force. <br/><br/>Rallies were held at eight stations in New Delhi, Allahabad, Mumbai, Port Blair, Pune, Lucknow, Jalandhar and Jaipur to mark the occasion.<br/> <br/>A large number of agencies involved in veterans' affairs such as Kendriya Sainik Board, Ex Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and Veterans' Directorates of the three Services as well as pension sanctioning and pension disbursing agencies had set up stalls to redress problems being faced by the veterans' and their families. <br/><br/>In addition to that nationalised banks had also put up stalls to help the veterans.