National Day honours Honours are presented on National Day in recognition of various forms of merit, and of the service that individuals have performed for Singapore. These honours are usually presented by the President of the Republic personally at the Istana or some other public venue. The highest honour is the Star of Temasek, which may be awarded to a member of the Singapore Armed Forces, the Singapore Police Force or the Singapore Civil Defence Force for an act of exceptional courage. The highest civilian honour is the Order of Temasek.