All members of the Loyal Orders local Bands and the general public are invited to join us for a VE Day Parade. It’s our traditional way of marking the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe. It will follow in the tradition of parades held in support of the war effort such as the ‘Salute the Soldier’ initiative launched to boost the war effort and raise much needed funds. Towns and villages across the UK pledged to raise funds and the parade of servicemen and other emergency service was the centrepiece.

Locally Portglenone held their parade on 9 May 1944 followed by a fundraising dance ensuring that the village and local area exceeded their target of £10,000. When the war ended parades of course resumed and Thanksgiving Services were held locally often preceded by a parade.

Our parade therefore is to honour not only the men and women ion the armed forces but those who played a valuable role on the home front and those who raised funds and morale, took in evacuated children and kept the country running in the face of total war.

We request all members of the Loyal Orders wear their colours and also invite families and children to join us and if they are members of uniformed youth organisations they will be most welcome in their uniforms.

The parade will form up at McNeillstown Orange Hall at the junction with the Lisnahunshin Road and Blackstone Road, parading to McNeillstown Independent Orange Hall. Here refreshments will be served and an exhibition and War themed activities will entertain and educate until 9pm when a short Act of Commemoration and Service of Thanksgiving will be conducted before the Beacon Lighting at 9.30 pm in line with the rest of the VE Day Beacons across the UK