Remembrance Sunday: How Calderdale is planning to honour the armed forces

Although communities are not able to come together physically, the Council is hoping there is the opportunity for greater participation than ever before, to mark this special and poignant event.

Whilst the normal services and public events are unable to go ahead this year, the Council’s Civic Office, which normally organises the requirements for Remembrance services across the borough, has coordinated the process for wreaths to be distributed to each war memorial in the borough.

These will be respectfully lain over Remembrance weekend, although it isn’t possible for normal ceremonies to take place.

The Council’s Bereavement Services team will be ensuring that the borough’s war memorials are cleaned and tidied in the run up to Remembrance Sunday.

The Mayor of Calderdale, Cllr Dot Foster, said: “We know that like every occasion this year, Remembrance in 2020 will feel very different. However, we’d love people to get involved to mark this key moment in the year and reflect on the valued contributions of our Armed Forces, both now and in past years.

“As a Council, we’re preparing the war memorials and wreaths as usual, although Remembrance services will not be going ahead. The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal is running as normal and people are encouraged to buy their poppy or make a donation to the appeal online, as volunteers are unable to sell poppies in the usual way.

“Although COVID restrictions have changed our usual plans, the act of Remembrance remains unaffected and however we choose to mark the occasion as individuals, the important thing is that We Will Remember Them.”

On Remembrance Sunday, a pre-recorded service of the wreath laying at the Cenotaph in Halifax will be live-streamed on the Council’s social media accounts, marking a two-minute silence at 11am.

The Revd Canon Hilary Barber, Vicar of Halifax Minster, said:“Because we can’t gather at War Memorials as usual, please join me on our doorsteps at 11am and observe the two-minute-silence, united as one Borough, one community, one nation, in commemoration of all those who gave their lives for our freedom. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”