His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Martyn Roper and the Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, attended the Remembrance Sunday Parade and Ceremony at Elmslie Memorial Church on Sunday, 11 November 2018.

The well attended event saw the laying of wreaths at both the Cenotaph and the Seamen’s Memorial.

This year’s event also marked the centenary of the Armistice, which brought World War I to an end on 11 November 1918 after four years of fighting. The Great War resulted in an estimated 37.5 million casualties, with approximately 8.5 million troops thought to have lost their lives.

The Elmslie service brought together officials, veterans and members of the public to reflect on the sacrifices made 100 years ago.

To commemorate the anniversary, the Cayman Islands participated in this year’s international initiative, ‘ringing for peace.’ At 11 a.m., the sound of bells rang out in unison across all Islands. During the ceremony, Elmslie Memorial Church paid tribute by striking its church bell and local radio and television stations marked the eleventh hour by playing bells over their channels.

In his speech, the Governor paid tribute to the Caymanians who served in the Great War. A total of 300 Caymanian sailors are known to have voluntarily enlisted in the British Merchant Navy in 1916.

Mr. Roper expressed his sincere appreciation for the Caymanian support then, and the support recruits from the Overseas Territories continue to provide the British Armed Forces today. He also highlighted the aid the RFA Mounts Bay offers the Cayman Islands and neighbouring Overseas Territories as it patrols the region’s seas as part of an initiative to promote the resilience against hurricanes.

Following the service, the Governor hosted a reception at Government House for around 25 veterans.

Mr. Roper commented: “It was an honour to attend the service today and to see so many, both young and old, commemorating the sacrifices made during the Great War and in subsequent conflicts. It is important that our history lives on with our young people; we must not forget what those in the past have done for our future. Hosting a reception for our veterans here today is indeed a distinct privilege.”

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Georgina Wilcox