Remembrance Sunday, 8th November 2020
Sadly, for the first time in history, Services of Remembrance nationally will be closed the public, in line with the Government’s latest advice. This means that the Remembrance Sunday event at the Aldington, Bonnington & Hurst War Memorial will be much reduced this year, in order to comply with national guidelines and to keep everyone safe.
Instead, members of the public are urged to remember all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, our veterans and all our Armed Forces by coming together for a national moment of silence at 11am on the doorstep of their own homes. The service from the Cenotaph will be broadcast nationwide on BBC One, Sky and ITV.
At our own Memorial, after the two minute silence is observed, the Last Post will be sounded and wreaths will be laid by an invited group, observing strict social distancing measures.
You are invited to show your support by replicating the Clap for Carers at the end of The Last Post.
It would also be nice to join in the national suggestion of using our windows to display support for the War Veterans and Armed Services. We invite everyone to show their respects by displaying a poppy in your window and by joining in the one minute silence at 11.00am, Sunday 8th November on your doorstep, alongside your neighbours.
You can download a Poppy Poster, or an outline Poppy Poster for children to colour in from the Royal British Legion website in return for a small donation. The Royal British Legion need support from online donations this year, because they have not been able to organise collections in the usual way.
Aldington Churches Together will lead our Remembrance Day ceremony as follows:
- Two minute silence at 11.00am
- Sam Loader will play The Last Post
- Wreath laying by an invited group – unless government advice changes.
Fittingly, in time for Remembrance Day, commemoration of the 49 men and one woman honoured on the Aldington, Bonnington & Hurst War Memorial is now online – in a new section of the Parish Council website that is launched today. The phenomenal dedication of David Hughes has not only brought us the Memorial itself, but also, through his research, the stories behind each individual. The poignant history of enlistment, the Great War and Second World War battles and the tragedies that local families endured is told here.
