The Scotsman

Honouring the fallen: Unique tribute to veterans on Armistice Day

Poppies are projected onto the Falkirk Wheel as Scottish Canals and Poppyscotl­and pay tribute on Armistice Day.

- By AMY WATSON newsdeskts@scotsman.com

Socially distanced commemorat­ions have marked Armistice Day across the UK, as the nation honoured its war dead in the midst of the coronaviru­s pandemic.

Much of the public was forced to observe th et raditional two minutes’ silence from home at 11am , due to widespread restrictio­ns on gatherings and travel.

Elderly medal-wearing veterans stood on their own doorsteps or outside by local war memorials to join in the collective moment of national remembranc­e.

Scaled back, outdoor, socially distance d events were allowed to take place across the country, from Edinburgh to London to Cardiff .

In Edinburgh, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the sacrifice of those who "helped to secure the freedoms we enjoy today" must never be forgotten. She added it "reminds all of us of the devastatin­g cost of war".

"Ordinarily, of course, this occasion would be marked through commemorat­ion events across the country ," she said.

"They provide an opp ortu ni ty for people to come together, to reflect and to pay their respects. Sadly, because of Covid, these events will have to be very different this year and our national services of remembranc­e, unfortunat­ely, will not be open to the public.

"However, I know that people across Scotland will still be taking the time to mark this Remembranc­e Day."

Ms Sturgeon observed the two-minute silence at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh alongside service personnel from the Navy, Army and RAF.

She remembered all those "from Scotland, the UK, the Commonweal­th, and around the world who paid the ultimate price".

At the Scottish Parliament, Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh was joined by party leaders and other MSPs as the building fell silent as a mark of respect.

The public was urged to mark the occasion from their doorsteps due to coronaviru­s but some scaled-down memorial events were held. Veterans were among those in attendance at the Garden of Remembranc­e in Edinburgh.

A face mask-wearing Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall joined a socially distanced congregati­on at a private, but televised, service at London's Westminste­r Abbey to mark the centenary of the funeral of the Unknown Warrior.

During the service, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage read out a specially penned poem honouring the symbolic "son we lost" who is "a soul without name or rank or age or home".

The unidentifi­ed British service man whose body was brought back from northern France after the end of the First World War, was laid to rest at the abbey on 11 November 1920.

For 100 years his grave has represente­d all those who lost their lives in the conflict but whose place of death was unknown or body never found.

Singer Cerys Matthews, the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave reading sat the service. Ruby Turner, accompanie­d by pianist Joo ls Holland, performed the hymn Abide With Me, sung at the Unknown Warrior's burial 100 years ago.

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 ??  ?? 0 Clockwise from main: Lord Provost Philip Braat in Glasgow; Boris Johnson, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at Westminste­r Abbey; the two-minute silence in Edinburgh
0 Clockwise from main: Lord Provost Philip Braat in Glasgow; Boris Johnson, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at Westminste­r Abbey; the two-minute silence in Edinburgh
 ??  ?? 0 Poppies were laid in Glasgow’s George Square
0 Poppies were laid in Glasgow’s George Square

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