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Northumberland County Council is extending a warm invitation to the ex-services’ community of Northumberland and to the general public to join them on 11th November for their annual Armistice Day ceremony at County Hall, Morpeth.
Joining the service will be members of the Ship’s Company of HMS Northumberland, an Honour Guard found by Royal Marines’ Reserve Tyne, fire-fighters from Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service and representatives of the Royal British Legion. Many ex-Services’ associations from around the north-east of England, including that of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers will also be present.
Leading the service will be the Anzio Band of Northumberland Army Cadet Force, Buglers of Durham Army Cadet Force. A Northumbrian Piper who will play a haunting lament whilst poppy wreathes are placed at the memorial by the Vice-Lieutenant of the county, the chairman and chief executive of Northumberland County Council and other representatives.
During the service, “For the Fallen” will be recited by Mr Ted Hold, the National Vice –President of the Fellowship of the Services, the Kohima Epitaph by Mr Sandy Powell who won the Distinguished Service Medal with Royal Marines in Normandy in 1944, and the Far East POW Prayer read by Mr Len Gibson who was enslaved on the “Death Railway”.
This year sees the re-dedication of the County Hall War Memorial, which has been re-located to facilitate a greater and more inclusive degree of participation by members of the public. Northumberland County Council chairman David Woodard said:
“This will be a very special and poignant day as we pay our respects at this new War Memorial at County Hall, to remember those who fell in two great and terrible world wars, and other conflicts of the 20th century. Of course our thoughts will be very much with those who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq in recent years, particularly those who did not return, and those who came home with the physical and mental scars of war. We must be prepared to remember them always with pride and respect”.
Members of the public wishing to be a part of this ceremony should be at County Hall, Morpeth by 10:30 on the morning of 11th November, where seating will be provided. Veterans are of course encouraged to attend and to wear their service medals, and Ex-Services’ groups to parade their Standards.
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