Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Remembering service personnel who fell in the Far East
Wreaths were laid at the war memorial at North Lanarkshire’s council headquarters to commemorate VJ Day and honour the British and Commonwealth forces who served in the Far East.
Provost Jean Jones led the ceremony at the civic centre, to“pay tribute to those brave individuals who fell during World War II”.
She was joined by Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire Colonel Stuart Roberts, Father Bill Bergin, Rev Bryce Calder, Lanarkshire Yeomanry representative Campbell Thomson and council chief executive Des Murray.
Provost Jones said:“it is 76 years since Japan surrendered to allied forces and it is important we mark this historic anniversary.
“The unconditional surrender brought an end to the devastation of the Second World War in that part of the world.
“The passing time since that awful conflict doesn’t diminish our admiration for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
“The war in the Far East was fought on an enormous scale, and although far from the conflict here in Europe, the brutal realities, massive loss of life and wholesale devastation were the same, and we are all eternally grateful for the sacrifices they made to help ensure freedom.”
She added:“restrictions during the course of the health pandemic have meant we haven’t been able to mark these important anniversaries in the way we would all like, but hopefully now we are slowly getting back to honouring these brave individuals in the way we should.”