BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 11th, 2016 (PRESS SEC) — Sunday, November 13th is the National Day of Remembrance for the Great Wars of 1914 to 1918 (World War I) and 1939 to 1945 (World War II), and members of the public are invited to attend this year’s commemorative inter-denominational religious service and military parade at the Cenotaph in Fortlands, Basseterre.
At 8:00am, the proceedings will start off with two minutes of silence in honour of the soldiers from the Presidency of St. Kitts-Nevis and Anguilla who died serving in the First and Second World Wars.
His Excellency the Governor-General Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton, G.C.M.G., C.V.O., Q.C., J.P. will lay a wreath, as well as Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris; members of the diplomatic corps; Commander of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Wallace; Commissioner of Police, Ian Queeley and leaders of other uniformed organizations. Compliments will be paid to the fallen veterans as units march past the Cenotaph on the way to Camp Springfield.
Each year, on the second Sunday of November, services of Remembrance take place at war memorials and cenotaphs in Britain and the Commonwealth nations to pay tribute to their servicemen and women who died in the two World Wars and later conflicts.
On Sunday, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and members of the Royal Family will join the armed and auxiliary forces, religious leaders and politicians at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London for a service that will include the laying of wreaths followed by two minutes of silence at 11:00am – the First World War ended at 11:00am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Each year, the service in London concludes with a march past of war veterans.
Today, November 11th, Prince Harry led the Armistice Day commemorations, laying a wreath at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire with representatives from the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force and observing a two-minute silence at 11:00am to remember the nation’s war dead. Prince Harry took the salute from the units participating in the march past after the service.
Prince Harry began his military career as an Officer Cadet in May 2005 and left the Armed Forces last year. During the span of his career, he rose to the rank of Captain and undertook two tours of Afghanistan. Prince Harry is scheduled to make his first official visit to St. Kitts and Nevis later this month on behalf of his grandmother, the Queen.