Armistice Day (also known as Remembrance Day) is on November 11 and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Rethondes, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning — the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month". While this official date to mark the end of the war reflects the cease fire on the Western Front, hostilities continued in other regions, especially across the former Russian Empire and in parts of the old Ottoman Empire.
In the UK, beginning in 1939, the two-minute silence was moved to the Sunday nearest 11 November in order not to interfere with wartime production should 11 November fall on a weekday. Since the 1990s a growing number of people have observed a two-minute silence on 11 November, resulting in both Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday being commemorated formally in the UK.
On Sunday, November 8, only the sound of the birds, frightened into flight by the noise of the flare, set off at the eleventh hour, broke the sombre silence enveloping the promenade around the cenotaph at Llandudno.
Remembrance transcends all boundaries. The British Legion seeks a small yet important individual and collective act, a rare moment when the nation can stand together and reflect on the price of freedom. That price is still being paid. More than 12,000 British Servicemen and women have been killed or injured on active service since 1945.
"If we are to maintain our peace and freedom, we must always remember."
The wreath from North Wales Police was laid, once again, by our own PC Gary Donnelly, ably supported by Sergeant Tony Latham. A poignant moment, perhaps, to reflect on those from our own town who have lost their lives whilst serving their country.
Before the Remembrance Parade, through the town to the cenotaph, a Remembrance Service was held at Holy Trinity Church. Many people attended and even more gathered outside the church, waiting to join the parade. Some were there to lay wreaths at the cenotaph, many were there just to remember the fallen.
Pictured above, on the left, Police Cadet Lewis Cox, with Gary Donnelly and PC Heidi Hardwick. Heidi and Sergeant Sam Roberts are among those responsible for helping to train our cadets, hopefully to become members of the North Wales Police Force at a later date. On the right, proud mother Vivien James, pictured with her son, Lance Corporal Phil James, serving with The Life Guards, which is the senior regiment of the British Army. With the Blues and Royals they make up the Household Cavalry.
Above, left, we have Sue and Kerry, who were representing Llandudno branch of the International Order of Ladies Glades, part of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB). On the right we have Llandudno Mayor, Cllr Mrs Janet Jones and Mayoress, Dr Becci Smith, along with Al Baker, Welfare Officer of the Royal British Legion, waiting to take the salute from the parade, as it passes the Town Hall on its way back to the British Legion Club on Vaughan Street.
The British Legion has produced a Two Minute Silence DVD for use over the Remembrance period. It features The Last Post played over a selection of Remembrance images, followed by 2 minutes of silence for reflection and concludes with The Reveille.
The DVD has been produced to provide a visual focal point at Remembrance services and also to show the different ways people across the country remember those who have fought in wars around the world. It can be viewed by clicking on the following link. If you start this at two minutes to eleven on the 11th day of the 11th month, it will lead you into two minutes silence, at just the right time . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YNOiYWIDKA
Once again I make no apologies for ending with a photograph of two of my beautiful grandchildren. Unfortunately they could not be present on Sunday morning, so we went along to pay our own respects later on, when all was quiet. It is important that we keep reminding our young people that it is the sacrifices made by our brave servicemen over the years that allows us to live life as it is today.
A host of stars including Robin Gibb, Michael Bolton, Hayley Westenra and Liz McClarnon have recorded a tribute song, We Will Remember Them, for the Armed Forces with proceeds being split between Forces charities, including The Royal British Legion.
Around 200 people recorded the single at Abbey Road Studios, you can listen to the song by clicking the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8JpOrYUUYo
I'll leave the last line to Winston Churchill, spoken at the height of the Battle of Britain on August 20, 1940:
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"