It is believed that the attendance by the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, at the 69th Martyrs’ Day memorial, the first such attendance by a serving army Commander-in-Chief in over 30 years, is a good omen for national reconciliation in the country.
Yangon Region Legislative Assembly Chairman Tin Maung Tun said, “This is good for national reconciliation in the country and for peace. This shows unity.”
The 69th Martyrs’ Day memorial was attended by family members of fallen leaders including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of slain leader Bogyoke Aung San, along with speakers of two houses and cabinet members.
Kyaw Swar Tun, from North Okkalapa, who came to the Martyrs’ mausoleum to pay tribute to the fallen leaders said that was glad to see recognition by the Tatmadaw (Armed Forces) of fallen leaders. 
“This is my first experience to see such a thing in my life. Previously they tried to wipe out the history of those fallen leaders. We had to stealthily lay our wreaths on the roadside on Martyrs’ Day. Martyrs’ Day was held again by the State only when President Thein Sein assumed power. But the highest leader of the Tatmadaw never attended. This is the first time I’ve ever experienced this,” he said.
After paying tribute to fallen leaders at Martyrs’ Day, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing joined an alms offering ceremony held at the residence of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi at University Avenue, Yangon, for fallen martyrs.
This alms offering ceremony was also attended by Vice-President Myint Swe, Attorney General Tun TunOo, Speaker of Union Parliament Mahn Win Khaing Than, Speaker of House of Representatives Win Myint, Parliament Committee of  Legal Affairs and Special Matters Study and Review Chairman Shwe Mahn along many others.
Yangon Region Legislative Assembly member from Thingangyun Township constituency 1 Nay MyoKyaw said that all democratic forces including the Tatmadaw and ethnic nationalities were needed to join hands together in the future too.
“This political role of paying tribute to our fallen martyrs by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is significant as the role of the Tatmadaw is very important for national reconciliation in our country. In future too if they learn lessons from today’s event and can cooperate for the country, not on Martyrs’ Day only, I believe we will reach our goal of  aFederal Union one day,” He said.
In addition to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Vice Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Vice-Senior General Soe Win also attended the Martyr’s Day memorial held in Yangon at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum and attended an alms offering ceremony for fallen martyrs held at Zabuthiri Hall in Naypyitaw by the Union Government.
After a bomb explosion at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum in 1983, senior State leaders had avoided attending martyr’s day ceremonies and the history of the fallen martyrs had been neglected and forgotten. According to available records, Gen. Ne Win, the highest leader of the country and commander-in-chief of the Tatmadaw, last attended a Martyrs’ Day ceremony in 1971.