Honour the fallen whilst protecting the living

October 27, 2020

Residents are being urged to ‘honour the fallen whilst protecting the living’ as remembrance services across the country are altered this year to ensure the safety of local communities.

In Southend-on-Sea there will be no public parade and service at the Cenotaph.

A small private ‘night of remembrance’ service will be held on the evening of Saturday 7 November instead. This will be held in a COVID-secure way with invites going to local Armed Forces Veterans Associations and community groups who usually attend Remembrance events. It will be recorded and broadcast on the council’s social media channels at 11am on Remembrance Sunday (8 November).

The Mayor will attend the Cenotaph on Sunday 8 November, at an appropriate but undisclosed time to lay a wreath on behalf of the citizens of the Borough and to pay his respects to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

The Mayor will also lead the Borough in the national two minute silence along with other dignitaries at a small private wreath laying ceremony at Porters Civic House at 11am on Wednesday 11 November. This will be live streamed on our social media channels. We again ask that people mark the two minute silence from home or from a COVID-secure location.

The Worshipful the Mayor, Cllr John Lamb, said: “I know this will be disappointing to many people but due to the ongoing pandemic and the need to protect public health and prevent the spread of Coronavirus, unfortunately we just cannot encourage a mass gathering at the Cenotaph by holding a public event like we usually would.

“Our message to residents is to ‘Remember from home’ and we wish to emphasise to everyone that they can ‘Honour the Fallen whilst protecting the living’ by watching our local services online, or watch national events on TV, much in the way we all did for VE and VJ Day earlier this year.

“I urge you all to support us in this decision. As the national and local situation regarding Coronavirus is fast changing, we will need to keep all of the above under regular review.”

There are many other ways that people can mark this occasion at home including observing the two minute silence on your doorstep like people did for clap for carers. The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal website offers advice and guidance on how we can all show our support in 2020 through its every poppy counts campaign.

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