Wales’ national observance of Remembrance Sunday which is jointly hosted by Cardiff Council, the Welsh Government and The Royal British Legion will take place in Cardiff on 13 November 2011.
This year the Royal British Legion celebrates its 90th anniversary. It was formed on 15 May 1921, bringing together four national organisations of ex-servicemen that had established themselves after the Great War of 1914-1918.
Its main purpose was to care for those who had suffered as a result of service in the Armed Forces in the Great War. It has continued its remarkable work providing welfare to the armed forces; helping serving and ex-Service personnel and their families, not only those who fought in the two World Wars, but also those involved in the many conflicts since 1945 and those still fighting today.
Detachments from the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force, the Wales University Royal Navy Unit, the Army’s University Officer Training Corps and the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets, will march from King Edward VII Avenue via Museum Avenue to the Welsh National War Memorial in Alexandra Gardens, Cathays Park, Cardiff where they will arrive by 10:40am and form up around the memorial.
Those detachments will be joined by columns of ex-Servicemen and women, organised by the Royal British Legion and columns of civilians representing organisations connected with current and past conflicts.
A selection of music will be played by The Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh from 10:40am until shortly before 11:00am when the service will begin with bidding and words of scripture given by Cardiff Council Honorary Chaplain, Reverend Stewart Lisk.
At 10:59am a bugler from The Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh will sound the ‘Last Post, followed at 11am by a gun of the 104 Air Defence Regiment RA (V) from Raglan Barracks, Newport who will be fire to mark the start of the two minutes’ silence which will be observed. Its conclusion will again be marked by the firing of the gun and the playing of Reveille by the Bugler.
Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of South Glamorgan will then lay a wreath at the Memorial, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, followed by representatives from across Wales including the Rt. Hon Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister of Wales, and Leader of Cardiff Council Cllr Rodney Berman. Members of the public may also lay wreaths at the National Memorial before or after the service.
At the conclusion of the service all participants and guests will gather to witness the March Past and Salute taken by The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff Cllr Prof Delme Bowen at the front of City Hall.
Cardiff Council Leader, Cllr Rodney Berman, said: ““As the Capital city of Wales it’s important that Remembrance Sunday is observed in Cardiff and we remember all those who lost their lives including many brave Welsh Men and Women.”
“The Remembrance service is even more poignant this year with the 90th anniversary of The Royal British Legion. The Royal British Legion does so much for serving and ex service personal and their families.”
The First Minister, said: “The generation who fought in World War one are no longer with us, but their passing means we must not stop remembering the sacrifice they made. We will continue to honour them on this and every Remembrance Sunday.
“While that generation has passed, sadly war and conflict are still with us and so this event still has relevance in the 21st Century. Service men and women from across Wales and the UK are currently on active duty in Afghanistan. In recent decades armed forces personnel have lost their lives in places like Bosnia, Northern Ireland and Iraq. By taking a small amount of time out of our day we can pay our respects and make sure their sacrifice is not forgotten.”
