For a couple of minutes throughout the UK it happened to be a different Sunday. The bustling activity you otherwise get is conspicuous by its absence; nor could you listen to the cracking noise of people speaking loudly in groups on a weekend holiday. Only the gentle hush sound made by the leaves is evident, and that too from a distant background.
As usual, the annual Remembrance Sunday was observed with the kind of respect the defense personnel, who laid down their lives in different conflicts since the commencement of World War I, deserved. Glowing tributes were paid to the service personnel by more than 10,000 people, comprising of both military veterans as well as civilians from different walks of life. Led by the Queen who laid the first wreath in London, leaders paid respects to the departed souls by observing a two-minute silence elsewhere across the nation.
Royal Family and Dignitaries
Soon after the Queen honored the members of the Armed Forces at 11:00 GMT, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a round each in the air marking the beginning and end of the two-minute silence. Then, it was the turn of Prince Philip to pay his respects. The Prince was followed by the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, who were joined by a mammoth crowd at the Cenotaph. Prominent among others who honored the late military personnel include the Monarch, who paid her respects by bowing after placing a wreath at the monument.
Once the royal family completed the ceremony, Prime Minister David Cameron laid a wreath in memory of the dead service personnel. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labor Minister Ed Miliband also joined in the ceremony after placing wreaths at the venue.
The long list of dignitaries who were presence on the occasion as part of the ceremony include former prime ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Besides, military service chiefs and representatives from Commonwealth nations, also participated in the Remembrance Sunday event. Those who were gathered at the venue, including “Churchill’s Secret Army” that comprised of representatives of a World War II unit, then undertook a march in memory of all those who had laid down their lives fighting rival forces.
Honored Around the Country
Elsewhere in the country, the day was marked by observing silence and paying floral tributes, led by different leaders. Birmingham, Bristol and York were among the prominent places that witnessed participation of a large number of spectators. In Wales, the ceremony was held at Cardiff’s Welsh National War Memorial, while St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh was chosen for conducting the event in Scotland. In Ireland, the event was observed in Enniskillen, with Taoi Seach Enda Kenny offering a wreath at the memorial. Those present on the occasion in Belfast included Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson, Ireland’s Deputy leader Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore and Northern Ireland Secretary Therese Villiers. In India, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall observed the day at a church in Mumbai.
-
Deportation Deadline Sparks Humanitarian Worries in Pakistan Pakistan’s government announced on Monday that almost 200,000 Afghan nationals have voluntarily...
-
Lessons Learned Shape Taiwan’s Preparedness in a Changing World Taiwan’s military has embarked on a comprehensive initiative to strengthen...
-
White House Reveals Disturbing Executions and Threats in Conflict The White House has disclosed deeply concerning information regarding the...
-
Military Exercises Coincide with Treaty Developments Amid Global Concerns Russia recently executed a large-scale military exercise to rehearse its...
-
Company Addresses Auto-Translation Error Impacting Palestinian Users Meta, the parent company of Instagram, has issued a formal apology for...
-
China’s Ambitious Plans to Double Its Nuclear Warhead Stockpile Highlighted in Pentagon’s Annual Report The annual report released by...
-
Strengthening Partnerships and Providing Support in Challenging Times In a collaborative effort between the U.S. Congress and the White...
-
Humza Yousaf Extends Support and Sanctuary Amidst Gaza Conflict Humza Yousaf, the First Minister of Scotland, has extended a...
-
U.S. Stresses Peace and Humanitarian Aid in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict In an exclusive interview aired on Sunday, President Joe Biden...
-
Urgent Call for Aid as Communities Reel from Tremors The western province of Herat in Afghanistan has been rocked...
-
Calls for Peace Amid Diverse Perspectives on Ongoing Crisis In response to a series of recent demonstrations across Canada,...
-
Celebrity Voices in the Israel-Palestine Dialogue In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, a group of celebrities has...