Newcastle to come together at town centre remembrance events
Residents are being invited to join civic dignitaries, veterans and representatives of the Armed Forces to honour and remember those who have sacrificed their lives in military service.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is once again helping to organise commemorative events in Newcastle town centre on Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday.
The annual act of remembrance will take place at the Cenotaph in Red Lion Square at 11am on Wednesday, 11 November, giving people the opportunity to pay their respects to British and Commonwealth military personnel and civilians who lost their lives in conflicts past and present.
The commemoration will include the sounding of the Last Post, followed by a two-minute silence, marking the moment the Armistice came into effect on 11 November 1918 and bringing people together in reflection and remembrance.
Wreaths will be laid at the memorial by the Mayor, Cllr. Christopher Bailey, and other civic dignitaries and representatives in tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Council Leader Jonathan Gullis said:
Remembrance is one of the most solemn and sacred moments in our national calendar. It is a time when we come together, united as one community and one nation, to honour the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in service to our country.
Generations of brave British men and women answered the call of duty, leaving behind their families, loved ones and everything they held dear. Many never came home. They gave their tomorrows so that we could have our todays, defending the freedoms and way of life we must never take for granted.
Behind every name engraved upon our war memorials is a life lost, a family forever changed and a sacrifice we can never truly repay. We owe them an eternal debt of gratitude and have a solemn duty to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten.
As we bow our heads in silence, we also remember the families who endured unimaginable loss, our veterans, and the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who continue to serve King and Country today.
I hope residents from across Newcastle-under-Lyme will join us in paying their respects and showing that our gratitude will never fade.
Their courage secured our freedom. Their sacrifice must never be forgotten.
We will remember them.”
The Wednesday commemoration follows Remembrance Sunday on 8 November, when Newcastle will once again host its annual church service and parade.
The traditional service takes place at St. Giles’ Church at 10am, followed by the act of remembrance and wreath-laying at the Cenotaph at 11am.
Spectators are asked to assemble behind the barriers on the opposite side of the war memorial, near the Art of Siam restaurant.
The pipes and drums of the Black Watch Association will lead the parade from Queens Gardens at 9.35am.
The Mayor will take the salute at the top of Castle Walk as the parade makes its way back to Queens Gardens through the Ironmarket at approximately 11.30am.