A moving Service of Remembrance attended by the Armed Forces and many civilian organisations was held at the Crosby Cenotaph to commemorate the willing sacrifices of previous generations in past and recent conflicts.
Masons, Royal British Legion, Soroptimists and other civilian organisations marched in unison with cadets, veterans and serving ranks of all services from the Town Hall to the Cenotaph where the service of remembrance was held before a large local presence.
At 10:57, a veteran spoke out: “They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them”. The final line being repeated and affirmed with sadness by all present. The solemn trumpet call of the Last Post, a reflective two minutes silence and the trumpet reveille then took place followed by a veteran citing the Kohima Epitaph, “When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today”
The Minister then led with The Lord’s Prayer, the parade came to attention and wreaths were laid at the foot of the War Memorial by the Lord Mayor’s representative, Councillor Veronica Webster, on behalf of all of the townspeople of the Sefton Borough.
Each of the Armed Forces and Civil Services then respectfully laid their wreaths in turn followed by other local and national organisations, including; St John Ambulance Association, Royal British Legion, Soroptimists International and the Ormskirk and Bootle Masonic Group led by Graham Chambers also laid wreaths on behalf of the losses of their respective memberships and signifying the covenants Freemasonry has with the Armed Services.
The National Anthem was later loudly sung by all. The Service of Remembrance being ended, the cadets and serving ranks marched on to the fire station for a march past salute from the dais. The gathering then dispersed with some retiring to the Town Hall for refreshments.
