North East pauses to reflect on Remembrance Day
Nov 12 2009 by Tom Mullen, The Journal
SOMBRE moments of reflection were held yesterday as thousands across the North East paused to remember those who gave their lives for freedom.
Heads bowed and church bells chimed to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Yesterday’s traditional two minutes’ silence for Remembrance Day was observed in offices, parks, shopping centres and train stations.
In Newcastle, commuters paused at Central Station, many proudly wearing poppies.
Meanwhile, uniformed veterans and current servicemen alike gathered around the country to say prayers for peace, for nations still suffering in war, for veterans, for innocent victims of conflict and for the Armed forces.
Harry Martin, 80, a membership secretary at Jesmond’s Royal British Legion club and veteran of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, said: “It is always an emotional day. There is no honour in war. I think today’s generation still understands that.
“There was a good turn out and the veterans are always impressed with people’s sentiments.”
Further afield, The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh joined military chiefs and senior politicians for a moving ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London.
The service remembered the deaths this year of the final three veterans of the First World War living in Britain.
William Stone died in January, aged 108, followed in July by Henry Allingham, 113, and Harry Patch, 111.
A Royal Marines bugler sounded the Last Post followed by a Reveille, and the bells of the Abbey Church were rung half-muffled in honour of those who died after living through the war years.
Yesterday’s tributes came after scores of separate Remembrance Day events were held on Sunday.
Despite poor weather, thousands attended parades and church services across the North East.
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