Unlike other years we will be marking Remembrance Sunday very differently. Usually, our lodges, from private to Imperial level have a full programme of events where they organise and lead acts of remembrance or represent the Institution at civic events. For members of the Institution who have served it is often a day to reflect on that service and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. This year as the usual national events such as those at the cenotaph
Remembrance Sunday honours those who serve to defend our democratic freedoms and way of life. We unite to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth. We will remember them.
- We remember the sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth.
- We pay tribute to the special contribution of families and of the emergency services.
- We acknowledge innocent civilians who have lost their lives in conflict and acts of terrorism.
Remembrance does not glorify war and its symbol, the red poppy, is a sign of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future.
Wearing a poppy is a small but significant way for us all to reflect and remember as well as a means of offering practical support to the ongoing care and support of our ex-service people. The annual events organised in each community across the country is a time when as a nation we can say thank you and to support those who have lost loved ones. In our land we are always very mindful of the victims of terrorism and those who still carry the scars of the Troubles.
Remembrance unites people of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds but it is also deeply personal.
It could mean wearing a poppy in November, before Remembrance Sunday. It could mean joining with others in your community on a commemorative anniversary. Or it could mean taking a moment on your own to pause and reflect.
Everyone is free to remember in their own way, or to choose not to remember at all.
In every act of remembrance, we honour the memory of the fallen and pledge to care for the living. We will remember them.
While this Remembrance Sunday will be like no other, we can still take time to pay our respects and to remember those who paid the supreme sacrifice. We will remember them.
The Institution places Remembrance high on its priorities. We do this not simply out of tradition, or as part of a national sense of duty, but primarily because we see it as our Christian duty. The Bible is very clear on the obligation to remember and give thanks for how God has delivered us. The pattern for personal and public, individual and national commemoration and thanksgiving is set in Scripture.
Psalm 77:11
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
It is therefore in observance of that Biblical mandate that we as an Institution place such an emphasis on acts of commemoration and celebration. It is also something that as a nation we in Britain and in the English speaking world place great emphasis upon. It is part of our national identity and a source of civic pride.
Remembrance plays a crucial role in community life. It helps bring us together and support those who have lost or who bear the scars of their service. For our members and their families who have served, we pay tribute and pledge our support.
Wearing a poppy, attending an act of remembrance or observing a minutes silence are all small ways we can as a community give thanks to God for his past help and also to thank and remember those who have served. It is a good tradition to teach our children, as it shows them the value of community service and sacrifice.
As an Institution, we have been to the fore in local towns and villages helping to organise Remembrance Events and providing practical support to veterans. We work alongside the Royal British Legion, local Councils and the Armed Forces to bring these events to the heart of our community and civic life.
English
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Lithuanian
Polish
Spanish