As Montserrat joined much of the world in remembering those who lost their lives in two world wars, lasting from 1914 – 1918 and again from 1939 – 1945, as well as the Iraq war (2005) uniformed groups and ex-service men gathered at on Sunday November 12 the cenotaph built under the former governorship of Peter Waterworth.
The service and parade ceremony featuring all uniform bodies was held at the W. H Griffith Drive in Little Bay. The Remembrance Day service and parade on that Sunday was prefaced with activities which included two minutes of silence and trumpet sound.
Each year on the second Sunday of the month of November services take place at the war memorials and the cenotaph in Britain and the Commonwealth nations. Her Excellency Governor Elizabeth Carrier, the Honourable Premier Donaldson Romeo, government ministers, senior government officials as well as members of the armed forces and uniformed bodies were in attendance they were joined by members of the Ex-servicemen Association, all paid their respects to the heroes who gave their life during the wars.
Beginning at 7.30 a.m. when the fall-in of the uniformed bodies, Montserrat began to pay its respect to those who fell in the two world wars and other conflicts on Sunday, November 12, 2017 with a two minute silence at 0800 hours.
In observance of remembrance day a religious service, ceremony and parade were held at the war memorial in Little Bay. Her Excellency Governor Elizabeth Carrier, the Honourable Premier Donaldson Romeo, government ministers, senior government officials as well as members of the armed forces and uniformed bodies were in attendance they were joined by members of the Ex-servicemen Association to pay their respects to their heroes who gave their life during the wars of 1914 to 1918 world war 1 and 1939 to 1945 world war 2 as well as in the Iraq War in 2005.
A full program was followed as after the two-minute silence there was the sounding of the Last Post; Then the wreath laying ceremony led off by Her Excellency the Governor, the Montserrat Legion, Hon Premier, RMDF commanding officer, Commissioner of Police, MSS Cadet Corps, Montserrat Red Cross, Girl Guides, Boys/Girls Brigade, Path Finders and members of the public.
The religious service led by the Montserrat Christian Council, began with the hymn O God our help in ages past, followed by prayers and scripture readings, including a short reflection by a minister; the Reveille, closed with the Blessing.
There was the singing of the Territorial song and the National Anthem.
As ZJB Radio noted, Captain Peter White as part of its commentary team for the occasion explained the significance as well in a prayer: “We are here to carry out the service of remembrance to those who have died for our freedom and to recognize them for the way of life we enjoy today. We remember before the Oh Lord and we trust to your keeping those who have died in defense of justice and freedom and just to be clear and those who have sacrificed their life during world war. I commend those names to your contemplation.
“Remember that the freedom and justice that we enjoy today are due to hard work of those who passed, sacrificed their lives to war so that we can be free.”
