Remembrance Sunday will be ‘different’
VETERANS Minister Johnny Mercer has said Remembrance Sunday will be “a little bit different” this year, due to the coronavirus crisis.
Former Army officer Mr Mercer, the MP for Plymouth Moor View, said everything would be done to commemorate the fallen in the “correct way”.
But the MP added that the pandemic was a “really good opportunity” for people to remember in their own homes, similar to VE Day and VJ Day.
The public have been asked to stay away from this year’s
National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, which normally sees thousands line the streets around Whitehall to pay their respects.
“What we’re trying to do is deal with this pandemic at the moment and deal with it in the most sensible way,” the minister told Times Radio.
“Now you saw how we celebrated VE Day and VJ Day and things like that this year, using social distancing and adjusting to the pandemic, and actually it’s a really good opportunity for people to remember in their own homes and take a bit of time just to do things a little bit differently.
“We are going to do everything we can to remember Remembrance Sunday in the correct way. This nation seems to always get it right in this regard and, this year, it’s just going to be a little bit different. I think people understand that and cope with it.”
A limited number of people – including armed forces veterans, members of the royal family and international leaders – will be permitted to attend the service at the Cenotaph on November 8.