Jim Shannon MP for Strangford has welcomed the very large turnout to the Remembrance Sunday celebrations in Ards.
He said: “This year like never before, the people of Ards and the District remembered those who give their lives in the First World War. This year is more poignant than ever as this was the last remembrance parade and ceremony that Ards Council will be officially involved in as next year it will be the new North Down and Ards Council and a whole new future will unfold.
[caption id="attachment_33913" align="alignright" width="300"]
In Flanders fields poppies grew where nothing else could flourish after the ravages of the First World War.[/caption]“The turn-out this year was excellent, with large crowds participating from veterans to soldiers to the various youth organisations. The day started in Cloughey at 8am with a memorial service at the seafront, then to Newtownards for the main service and the 25 TA gunner salute followed by an excellent service at St Marks Church of Ireland.
“The afternoon parade and commemoration at Ballyhalbert was particularly poignant as we stood overlooking the Irish Sea, and recalled that it was from these shores that soldiers from the Ards Peninsula and Ards town crossed the sea to go off to battlefields across Europe and to the Somme.
“For that moment, we are all transported back 100 years to the First World War and remembered with gratitude their commitment and their sacrifice. They forfeited their tomorrows so that we could have our today and our futures. Channing Day’s family had a service in Comber for their daughter who gave her life in Afghanistan and that underlined the debt of gratitude that we owe all of those who served in order to secure our liberty, freedom and democratic processes that we now enjoy.
“This year, 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War, the colossal impact of those who fought and died and those who came back to the Ards was so rea to all who attended parades and services across the Borough.”
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