Silence in Fivemiletown as community pays respect
FIVEMILETOWN Royal British Legion (RBL) hosted its Annual Remembrance Parade on Sunday, November 13 as the Fivemiletown community came together to mark Remembrance Sunday.
The Fivemiletown RBL members and youth groups formed up at the Community War Memorial at 2.50pm to observe the Act of Remembrance.
Precentor Hanlon opened proceedings in prayer, followed by the laying of wreaths. Fivemiletown RBL, and a variety of figures from the Regimental Association, PSNI, community and youth groups and families all laid wreaths at the memorial, while Charlie Mcclintock played a lament on the pipes.
The exhortation was led by Robert Carson, RBL Branch Chairman. Noel Trimble of Murley Band played The Last Post, which was followed by a minute’s silence. After Reveille, the Kohima Epitaph was recited.
At 3pm the large parade set off under the command of Iain Lendrum BEM, and led by Irvine Memorial Pipe Band. It made its way along the main street to the site of the 1993 murder of Constable Drew Beacom and Constable Ernie Smith, where a wreath was laid by Andrew Beacom in memory of both members of the RUC.
The parade then proceeded along the bypass to St John’s, Church of Ireland, where a large crowd had gathered for the church service.
After the service, the parade made its way back to the RBL hall with the salute taken by The Deputy Lord Lieutenant for County Tyrone, James Hamilton Stubber, and Michael Holland.
The crowd then gathered in the hall for tea and sandwiches provided by Fivemiletown RBL.