Ilkeston - Pause To Remember
w/e 13 November 2011
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
These images were taken over three days starting
with the service at the Cenotaph on Armistice Day, the 11th and
concluding at the same place with another service on Sunday 13th,
Remembrance Day.
Flags have been flying on the Town Hall this week with the national
union flag (technically it's only a union jack when displayed
on a boat) being dwarfed by another of the Royal British Legion
that shows red poppies on a white background with the words "Pause
To Remember" and the date 11/11/11.
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And it was on Friday at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day
of the eleventh month in the eleventh year of this century when
the clock on St Mary's struck that the town centre along with
many other places fell silent for two minutes.
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A short service was held at the Cenotaph and a good crowd stood
to pay their respects to all the fallen in two World Wars and
other conflicts since.
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Members of the local branch of the Legion were well represented
as the Mayor of Erewash and other Civic representatives made
their way in front of the library to lay poppy wreathes as a
tribute.
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All age groups were represented at this act of remembrance including
a group of children from a nearby school.
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Youngsters were also much in evidence on Saturday as the local
Army Cadets (above) stood in the town centre streets with their
Air Force Cadet colleagues to raise funds for the British Legion
by selling poppies and collecting donations from the general
public.
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As the Legion celebrates its ninetieth year of helping veterans
and their families several shops have allowed volunteers to set
up displays and collection points on their premises for several
weeks. As well as the usual lapel poppies, a number of other
items including wrist bands, crosses and pins were available
in aid on the Poppy Appeal.
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It was not only people wearing poppies as most if not all of
the buses on the number two route between Ilkeston and Nottingham
had a large poppy prominently displayed at the front.
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It was back to the Market Place on Sunday but whereas most places
gathered for Remembrance Day services at 11am, the gathering
in Ilkeston took place in the afternoon with a Civic Service
in St Mary's Church at 3pm followed by the laying of wreathes
at the Cenotaph and a parade through the town centre by representatives
of many organisations.
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Many wreathes were laid on all four sides of the Cenotaph and
they were supplemented by crosses and flowers that in different
words all proclaimed the same message of remembering the fallen.
We will remember them. We WILL remember them!
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