Cayman Remembrance Sunday for War Heroes

A two-minute silence marked the Cayman Islands’ observance of Remembrance Sunday today (10 November 2019). This year’s local ceremonies centred on the theme of “Lest We Forget”.

Ceremonies took place simultaneously on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac starting at 10:45 a.m. The service was held in front of the Cenotaph at the Elmslie Memorial Church grounds on Grand Cayman and at the Memorial Cenotaph on the District Administration Lawn in Stake Bay on Cayman Brac.

Wearing their symbolic poppies with pride, Veterans and Seafarers Association members attending included those who served in World War II. Their presence was a powerful reminder of the tenacity and strength of our older generations.

Also attending on Grand Cayman were His Excellency the Governor, Martyn Roper, the Premier, Hon. Alden McLaughlin, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Hon. McKeeva Bush, Cabinet Ministers, and other members of the Legislative Assembly and the clergy as well as the reigning Miss World Cayman and Miss Teen Cayman.

The ceremony began with a parade led by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) band and officers. Other participants were members of the Veterans Association; the Fire and Prison Services; Girls Brigade; Boy and Cub Scouts; Cadet Corps and the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens and Grand Cayman.

The ceremony also included the sounding of the Last Post and the laying of wreaths, led by the Governor followed by organisations and individuals at the Elmslie Cenotaph.

The weather added to the sombre atmosphere of the day and eventually called for the congregation to be moved inside Elmslie Memorial Church. At which point, the ceremony recommenced with symbolically laying the wreaths at the Seamen’s Memorial.

In Cayman Brac, the ceremony also began with a parade led by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service as well as members of the Cayman Islands Fire Service; the SDA Pathfinders; Girls Brigade Boy and Cub Scouts and Cadet Corps.

In a poignant moment of reflection, District Commissioner, Ernie Scott gave an address followed by Major George Walton who read aloud the poem “Why do you still march old man?” to the congregation.           

Before the wreaths were laid, Deputy District Commissioner, Mark Tibbetts, called out the names on the Cenotaph of the Caymanian men who lost their lives during World War I and II. A sober reminder of the ultimate sacrifice they made.

A total of 26 wreaths of poppies were laid at the foot of the Memorial Cenotaph in Stake Bay during the ceremony on Cayman Brac. The wreath laying was led by Deputy Premier, Hon. Moses Kirkconnell and followed by Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Conolly as well as other organisations and community groups.

The event is organised annually on Cayman Brac by District Administration and on Grand Cayman by the Protocol Office for all further information, contact the office number 244-3612 or [email protected].

IMAGES: GIS & Georgina Wilcox