Services remember our heroes (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Services remember our heroes

12:51pm Thursday 12th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

MOVING tributes were paid to those who have died defending this country at Chelmsford’s annual poppy day service.

The Rev Peter Judd conducted the service at the war memorial outside the Chelmsford Council offices on Sunday morning.

Duke Street ground to a halt as hundreds of local residents lined the streets to pay their respects.

Tears were shed as a local Girl Guide joined an elderly member of the Royal British Legion to recite together Laurence Binyon’s poem, For the Fallen, before a two minutes of silence was impeccably observed.

Then a wreath and three wooden crosses were laid at the memorial to mark the service of those who have died in both world wars and the current conflicts.

There was a rousing rendition of the national anthem before ex-servicemen and women took part in a march and saluted the many local dignitaries in attendance.

Many of the veterans taking part were clearly moved as the crowd continued to clap them continuously throughout the ten-minute march.

Chelmsford mayor, Cllr Tony Sach, who read passages from the bible at the service, said it was a moving day for all involved.

He said: “Once again Chelmsford has come out in force to show these brave men and women how much their sacrifices mean to us.”

The mayor was also in attendance yesterday as maroon rockets were fired at Central Park to mark the two minutes silence held annually at 11am on November 11, to mark Armistice Day.

He said: “We hope whatever people were doing when they heard the signal they stopped and took time to reflect.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)