Ballyclare Twelfth Speech
William Thompson, Co Antrim Grand Secretary, said loyalty as Orangemen takes a number of forms – loyalty to our Reformed Faith, to our Monarchy as long as it holds to the Reformed Protestant faith, a love and loyalty to our Country and support for the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Mr Thompson, speaking at the Ballyclare demonstration, said the service given by the Queen to the United Kingdom and its people has been immense.
"We in Ulster who have endured more than 30 years of terrorism and attempted ethnic cleansing have greatly appreciated her support for our position and in turn renew our allegiance to her as Head of State.
"As Orangemen and members of the wider Orange family we support the continuance of the political Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This political settlement, heralded in 1801 and reformed with the formation of Northern Ireland, has continued to reflect the lasting bond between the people of the United Kingdom.
"This Union is not an imposed one, but a natural alliance between peoples who hold a common political, economic, cultural and religious bond. In this part of Co Antrim, we are only too aware of the religious and cultural bonds that exist between us and our neighbours and kin across the sea in Scotland.
"For centuries this link – the exchange of people, ideas and more – has served to cement a close relationship which goes far beyond the trappings of a mere political alliance. It is a cultural and ethnic link that is reflected and manifested through our membership of the Loyal Orange Institution.
"The Union is a democratic settlement embodying the will of the greater number of people in Northern Ireland – a resolve which has not been shaken even during the darkest days of the terrorist onslaught by a violent minority who sought to destroy our community, our country and our way of life."
Mr Thompson said that recently a concerted effort was being made to remove symbols of Britishness from areas of public life in Northern Ireland.
"We are totally opposed to these attempts to airbrush our British history, culture and identity from the public face of Northern Ireland. When individuals, groups or agencies attack the symbols and the outworkings of Britishness in Northern Ireland they must realise that they are attacking the identity of an entire people.
"For us the Union Flag, symbols of remembrance, plaques and even bunting are not mere baubles but a representation of our democratic way of life, an embodiment of our cultural and political allegiances and a representation of what 325 of our brethren gave their lives for against evil men who would seek to destroy that which they and we hold dear."
SEE FULL TWELFTH COVERAGE IN MONDAY'S NEWSPAPER WHERE READERS CAN ENJOY A 24-PAGE PICTURE SUPPLEMENT WITH MORE THAN 100 IMAGES FROM ACROSS THE PROVINCE
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belfast
Wednesday 15 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South west
