It was a poignant Remembrance Day Service held at St George’s Hall on Sunday morning as it marks 80 years since the D-Day landings at Normandy where over 11,000 soldiers lost their lives and 54,000 were left wounded and missing.
Former BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Phillips said: “The theme of the service is the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings and the point of the service is to come together and pay tribute to those past and present who have fought for our freedoms today.”
The two-minutes’ silence started at 11am which was introduced with a traditional gun firing and a second firing to end the silence. Red poppies then began to fall from the sky to mark the opening of the service.
During the service there was numerous prayers and readings, conducted by The Archbishop and bishop of Liverpool, Rt Revd Dr John Perumbalath, Revd Geoff Felton and Revd Malcom McMahon.
Revd John Perumblath delivered a touching prayer where he “gave thanks to the people who lost their lives so that we could live in peace.”
Darshana Borad, representing the faith leaders’ group, also led a Hindu prayer calling for unity and togetherness.
Additionally, Colonel Joe Harkon MBE TD, a former member of the Parachute regiment was a guest speaker this year, who expressed a heartfelt and powerful poem about the Normandy Landing and The Battle Of Arnhem.
There was also music from the Liverpool Lighthouse Choir who sang a beautiful rendition of Abide With Me before a lovely version of God Save The King delivered by St Edmonds Choir.
To conclude the service crucial religious, civic, military and cadet leaders took part in a wreath laying ceremony where they paid respect to the fallen.
Following the service they also took part in a parade from St Georges Plateau, saluting the cenotaph to the right.
Furthermore, hundreds of wreaths were laid at the Cenotaph by members of the public.
There was also a poppy displayed on the bombed-out church, one of Liverpool’s most iconic war memorials, which encapsulates everything that Liverpool went through during WWII.
Featured image (c) Lucas Wright
