Remembrance Sunday is a time for people to reflect on past wars and conflicts, paying tribute to the fallen and those who fought for the freedom and rights of others.
On Sunday November 12th, there will be a variety of services across the region to commemorate the occasion, with thousands of people expected to go to one of the many services held locally.
War veterans, churches, scouting groups and the public will be in attendance at services in Liverpool, the Wirral and beyond.
Liverpool’s annual parade and commemoration will be led by the Lord Mayor Councillor Malcolm Kennedy. The service will take place at the Cenotaph on St George’s Plateau, with an official start time of 10:55am following a series of performances beginning around 15 minutes earlier.
The Band of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment will feature, as will classical singer, Danielle Louise Thomas, and St Edward’s College Senior Choir.
YouTube: JMU Journalism (November 2016)
The Last Post will be played, with accompanying gunfire to mark the start of two minutes of silence across the city at 11am.
Veterans, scouting groups, churches and public services will then place wreaths at the Cenotaph, whilst poppy petals will be dropped from the roof of St George’s Hall.
A prayer of Thanksgiving is to be said by The Archbishop of Liverpool, The Most Reverend Malcolm McMahon, followed by a prayer offered in the Jewish tradition by Rabbi Dr Martin van den Bergh, who is a representative of the Merseyside Council of Faiths.
The public will then be allowed to place their own wreaths and pay respects after a short parade and march.
To accommodate the event, there will be a number of road closures across the city until the late afternoon, including William Brown Street from Lime Street to Old Haymarket (7am to 1pm), with Lime Street, St George’s Place, St John’s Lane and Queen Square Bus Station being closed from 9:30am until 1pm.
Elsewhere on Merseyside, there will be services at Bootle War Memorial King’s Gardens, Southport War Memorial Monument Square, Birkenhead Cenotaph in Hamilton Square, and at St Helens Victoria Square.