Billy Kennedy: Remembrance services mark human sacrifice of the many

Remembrance Sunday services will be observed in churches across the United Kingdom tomorrow with worshippers paying homage to those in our armed forces who paid the supreme sacrifice in two world wars, and in subsequent conflicts including the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland.
By Billy Kennedy
Published 13th Nov 2021, 07:14 BST
Updated 13th Nov 2021, 07:29 BST
11th November 2021 Photo by Kelvin Boyes // Press Eye Deputy Lord Mayor leads 2-minute silence at City Hall for Armistice Day Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alderman Tom Haire led a 2-minute silence at the Cenotaph in the Garden of Remembrance at Belfast City Hall today (Thursday 11 November) to mark Armistice Day. The Deputy Lord Mayor was joined by the President of the Royal British Legion, Major Philip Morrison MBE High Sheriff of Belfast, Councillor Michael Long and Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, Suzanne Wylie.11th November 2021 Photo by Kelvin Boyes // Press Eye Deputy Lord Mayor leads 2-minute silence at City Hall for Armistice Day Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alderman Tom Haire led a 2-minute silence at the Cenotaph in the Garden of Remembrance at Belfast City Hall today (Thursday 11 November) to mark Armistice Day. The Deputy Lord Mayor was joined by the President of the Royal British Legion, Major Philip Morrison MBE High Sheriff of Belfast, Councillor Michael Long and Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, Suzanne Wylie.
11th November 2021 Photo by Kelvin Boyes // Press Eye Deputy Lord Mayor leads 2-minute silence at City Hall for Armistice Day Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alderman Tom Haire led a 2-minute silence at the Cenotaph in the Garden of Remembrance at Belfast City Hall today (Thursday 11 November) to mark Armistice Day. The Deputy Lord Mayor was joined by the President of the Royal British Legion, Major Philip Morrison MBE High Sheriff of Belfast, Councillor Michael Long and Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, Suzanne Wylie.

Commemorating the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women has been a tradition in the UK for more than 100 years, with the Royal British Legion (RBL) playing a significant role in the organisation of services at cenotaphs, war memorials and in churches.

‘Armistice Day’ always falls on the second Sunday in November, a date which marks the anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War in 1918.

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Wreaths of red remembrance poppies are laid on the memorials and two minute’s silence is held at 11am. At some locations, church bells are usually rung half-muffed, creating a sombre effect.

Billy KennedyBilly Kennedy
Billy Kennedy

The British national ceremony is held in London at the Cenotaph on Whitehall. The main part of the ceremony consists of the laying of wreaths by members of the Royal family and other dignitaries. Throughout her reign, the Queen has had a constant presence at the London remembrance and, hopefully – health permitting, the 95-year-old monarch will lead the nation tomorrow. The Whitehall event consists of appropriate solemn music and a march-past by thousands of military and other units,

In Northern Ireland, the main ceremony was held at the City Hall in Belfast on Thursday (Armistice Day), when representatives of Her Majesty’s government and civic and political dignitaries observed the wreath-laying ceremonies, with clergy from the main religious denominations adding the faith dimension.

Tomorrow, several hundred memorial events will be held in other cities, towns and villages across Northern Ireland, with particular emphasis in towns like Enniskillen and Omagh, where the human scars from Irish republican terrorist atrocities are still all too obvious.

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The RBL in NI plays a prominent part in the ceremonies here, with the Protestant churches, in particular, hosting full services after the observances at the war memorials. In most Protestant churches in the province, there are memorial plaques and Union standards identifying with parishioners and members of congregations who died in the world wars and in the other conflicts, many gallantly wearing the uniforms of the British regular armed services, and the RUC and UDR.

Related topics:Northern IrelandUnited KingdomQueenOmagh