The Service for Remembrance was held at the War Memorial in Basseterre, officially commencing at 8:00am when a two minute period of silence was observed, starting by the firing of a gun, that rocked the city centre and causing somewhat of “scare” for the members of the public, gathered for the ceremony, but caught off guard by the loud boom.
A second gun fire, marked the conclusion of the SILENCE, and this was followed by the Last Post. The mood became even more sombre as the President of the Ex Servicemen’s Legion, read: “We shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we shall remember them.”
The president also shared that since last year’s service, they have lost members of the Legion and as one looked across the faces of the remaining corps, it was obvious that the numbers are fast decreasing, as the years roll on and the sunset of their remarkable lives, draws near. This is exactly why, the president reminded the audience of the need to “remember them”.
Wreaths were laid at the monument that represents sacrifice and honour. Amongst those participating in this exercise were, Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas, Commander of the Defense Force, Commissioner of Police and the President of the Ex-Servicemen’s Legion, and others.
Twenty men are recorded to have lost their lives from our shores, in World War One, from 1914-1918:
Joseph Cephus, James Daniel, Arthur Dickenson, Donald Edwards MC, HD Edwards DSO, John Foreman, Edmund Gordon, H Herbert Jones, James L E R Lake, Joseph Lewis, Joseph McKoy Edwards Mills, Hubert Mitchell, Donald Patrice, Edward Hope Ross, Horace Veira, Ivor Wakefield, William C Wattley, Richard White and Robert Woolward.
Those who gave their lives in the Great War of 1939-1945 were:
J E Alves, Peter Berkley, Sydney Delisle, A. E . Farara, GG H Farara DFC DFM and Basil Veira.
The other number that seems to be falling each year, is that of the members of the public who attend the service. It was somewhat disappointing to see less than one hundred citizens at the event. The other disappointment has to do with the lack of respect for the 2 minute period of silence, as one could observe vehicles, though not in the immediate vicinity, but in the distance, continuing their normal activity, despite the call for a cease of such movement each year.
On parade today were the Defense Force, Police Force, Cadet Corps, Nurses, Girl Guides, Pathfinders and members of the Fire & Rescue Service.
Basseterre, St. Kitts- The ultimate sacrifice for democracy and freedom was honoured here today, Sunday 13th November, 2011, when the people of St. Kitts and Nevis, led by their Head of State, paid tribute to those brave men, who lost their lives in the two Great Wars that changed the world, starting almost one century ago.
The Service for Remembrance was held at the War Memorial in Basseterre, officially commencing at 8:00am when a two minute period of silence was observed, starting by the firing of a gun, that rocked the city centre and causing somewhat of “scare” for the members of the public, gathered for the ceremony, but caught off guard by the loud boom.
A second gun fire, marked the conclusion of the SILENCE, and this was followed by the Last Post. The mood became even more sombre as the President of the Ex Servicemen’s Legion, read: “We shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we shall remember them.”
The president also shared that since last year’s service, they have lost members of the Legion and as one looked across the faces of the remaining corps, it was obvious that the numbers are fast decreasing, as the years roll on and the sunset of their remarkable lives, draws near. This is exactly why, the president reminded the audience of the need to “remember them”.
Wreaths were laid at the monument that represents sacrifice and honour. Amongst those participating in this exercise were, Governor General Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, Prime Minister, Dr. Denzil Douglas, Commander of the Defense Force, Commissioner of Police and the President of the Ex-Servicemen’s Legion, and others.
Twenty men are recorded to have lost their lives from our shores, in World War One, from 1914-1918:
Joseph Cephus, James Daniel, Arthur Dickenson, Donald Edwards MC, HD Edwards DSO, John Foreman, Edmund Gordon, H Herbert Jones, James L E R Lake, Joseph Lewis, Joseph McKoy Edwards Mills, Hubert Mitchell, Donald Patrice, Edward Hope Ross, Horace Veira, Ivor Wakefield, William C Wattley, Richard White and Robert Woolward.
Those who gave their lives in the Great War of 1939-1945 were:
J E Alves, Peter Berkley, Sydney Delisle, A. E . Farara, GG H Farara DFC DFM and Basil Veira.
The other number that seems to be falling each year, is that of the members of the public who attend the service. It was somewhat disappointing to see less than one hundred citizens at the event. The other disappointment has to do with the lack of respect for the 2 minute period of silence, as one could observe vehicles, though not in the immediate vicinity, but in the distance, continuing their normal activity, despite the call for a cease of such movement each year.
On parade today were the Defense Force, Police Force, Cadet Corps, Nurses, Girl Guides, Pathfinders and members of the Fire & Rescue Service.
