Five things you need to know about Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day marked today in Edinburgh and across the Commonwealth
This morning many people will gather at services across the UK and the Commonwealth to mark Remembrance Day.
The Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, The Rt Hon Donald Wilson will lead his wreath laying party to join the Remembrance Parade for a short open air ceremony at the City Chambers with Armed Services and official figures including Scotland’s First Minister.
The Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP, will lay a wreath on behalf of the Scottish Parliament at the Royal British Legion Scotland’s Edinburgh Parade and Service of Remembrance today at Edinburgh City Chambers. Following this, she will also attend the church service at St Giles Cathedral.
The Gun will be fired from Edinburgh Castle and a two minute silence will be observed, marking the ending of the anniversary of the First World War.
The Royal British Legion Scotland Remembrance Day parade of veterans, serving military detachments and cadets will begin at St Giles Street and will march to the Stone of Remembrance at the City Chambers where it will be met by official figures including the Lord Lieutenant and the First Minister.
The Lord Lieutenant and the First Minister will take part in the Act of Remembrance and wreath laying ceremony along with Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin, KCB, CBE, MA, National President of The Royal British Legion Scotland, and the Secretary of State for Scotland Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP. The parade and ceremony will be followed by a Service of Remembrance at St Giles Cathedral.
The Edinburgh Parade is one of over thirty events across Scotland on Remembrance Sunday organised by hundreds of volunteers for the Royal British Legion Scotland.
Kevin Gray MM, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal British Legion Scotland said:-“On Remembrance Sunday, our heartfelt tribute will be paid to every single serviceman and woman that has fought and died to keep us safe. On this momentous day our thoughts will also be with those who still serve in our Armed Forces and all their loved ones. As we approach the centenary of the start of World War I in 2014 we are reminded especially of all those who lost their life in that conflict.
“We organise events around Scotland for Remembrance Sunday giving people the chance to pay their respects. Whether it’s in a moment of quiet reflection at a ceremony or an official parade, we can all join together to show our immense gratitude and respect for the sacrifices made on our behalf by so many brave men and women.”
The Royal British Legion Scotland plays a lead role in organising Remembrance events across Scotland and helping to preserve Scottish war memorials. The charity also works with schools to educate children about Remembrance.
This year the Royal British Legion Scotland has launched a competition for primary schools to encourage them to research the stories behind the names on their local war memorial. The charity also launched the Voices of Veterans campaign to preserve stories of ex servicemen and women and their families in the lead up to the centenary of the start of World War One.
- Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918.
- King George V specially dedicated this day in 1919 when he held the first remembrance day service in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
- Poppies became a symbol for Remembrance Day as a result of the poem Flanders Fields.
- Two minutes silence is also observed on 11 November itself at 11 am.
- Scottish Poppy wreaths are made at Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh set up in 1926.
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Photos of the Garden of Remembrance in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens by John Preece available online at http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography