MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
The Falkland Islands remembers with Britain.
Although far away in the South Atlantic, the Falkland Islands today joined with Britain in its annual Act of Remembrance.
Every year, on the second Sunday of November, designated in Britain as Remembrance Sunday, a special ceremony takes place at the Cenotaph in London's Whitehall. Originally designed to be an act of remembrance for those members of the British Forces who gave their lives in two world wars, its scope has now been widened to include tribute to all those who have given their lives in the service of their country.
It is a solemn and moving occasion. The Queen lays a wreath as do other members of her family, heads of the Armed Forces, the Prime Minister, Leaders of Her Majesty's Opposition and many hundreds of others. To gently-paced marches played by a military band, thousands of ex-servicemen and others file by. The old soldiers, sailors and airmen are often bedecked with medals from distant campaigns, some are in wheelchairs, but few, it would appear, are so weighed down by their years that they have lost their old parade ground bearing or pride in their particular unit.
Up and down the British Isles this Sunday, a ceremony or a reduced version of it will have taken place. Wherever there is a war memorial, wreaths of poppies evoking the fields of slaughter in Flanders during the First World War will have been layed in memory of the men and women of that particular town, village or county, who left for war and did not return. A two minute silence will have been observed at eleven o'clock, the timing in itself a reminder that the First World War ended officially al eleven o'clock on the eleventh of November 1918.
Punctually at eleven o'clock in the Falkland Islands, some three hours in advance of the time in Whitehall, those assembled in bright sunshine before Stanley's Cross of Sacrifice, heard the saluting gun mark the beginning of their own two minutes of silent remembrance. Earlier, His Excellency the Governor, Mr Howard Pearce, read out the Roll of Honour: the names of those Falkland Islanders, who gave their lives in the service of Britain in two world wars. It is a surprisingly long list for such a small and distant community.
The Governor was received at the Cross of Sacrifice, by the Commander of British Forces South Atlantic, Air Commodore Lacey and a parade of units from HMS Iron Duke, the Royal Air force, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment and the Falkland Islands Defence Force. Also in attendance were representatives of the uniformed youth movements: boy scouts, girl guides and sea cadets.
Among the congregation of Falkland Islanders and military personnel attending the ceremony, were a number of visitors from the cruise ship Explorer, which was anchored in the inner harbour. One lady tourist was heard to remark that she had attended many such Remembrance Sunday parades and services, but could not remember one more moving.
John Fowler (MP) Stanley
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesCommenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!