We are holding a short flag flying ceremony for VE Day, I was wondering if anybody had a ceremonial order of proceedings for this event, as I am trying to decide what needs to be said or done i.e. 1 minute silence in memory of the fallen with standard bearers in attendance. Any guidance would be welcome.
Hi Sam, this is the first draft of the Order of Service we will be following on VE Day created in collaboration with the local branch of the Royal British Legion. Standards will be in attendance. Once we have received RSVPs we will identify speakers, potentially a senior military representative, the Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff and /or a local veteran. Good luck with your plans.
Hi all
I am interested to see what other authorities are doing too. We have put together a short ceremony which doesn’t include an Act of Remembrance. The ceremony consists of a Civic Welcome from the Mayor, prayers from faith reps, reading of the VE80 Proclamation by a Deputy Lieutenant, and contributions from veterans’ organisations and our Freedom Regiments. It concludes with the National Anthem and a blessing. The general tone of our VE events is one of celebration of war end, but I am now wondering whether an Act of Remembrance should be included. I would be interested too in views on this. Many thanks
Hi everyone,
We are the same as #SallyG. We are not including an Act of Remembrance in Bexley. The macebearer acting as Town Crier will be reading the proclamation, there’ll be short speeches/messages from the Mayor on behalf of the people of Bexley and the DL on behalf of HM The King, followed by prayers from the Chaplain to the Forces, a blessing and concluding with the National Anthem. Our RBLs, Veterans Associations and Cadet groups have been invited to attend with their standards. We are taking the same tone of celebration of war end and the mayor is hosting an invitation only tea party in the afternoon with invited guests - the usual VIPs, supporters of our armed forces community and a selection of local veterans invited. We are incredibly lucky to have a few WWII veterans joining us and older residents who have memories of VE Day in the Borough and our archive team will be creating a memory tree to record their stories and memories.
Hi Sam, This is our order of service. We will have standard bearers there too.
Order of Service
09:56 The Mayoral Party will process from Deanes Reception
09:58 The Act of Remembrance read by John Davies, Chairman: RAF Association Basingstoke Branch
09:59 The Last Post
10:00 One-minute silence
10:01 Reveille
10:02 The Kohima will be read by Padre Charles Lewis, Wing Chaplain Thames Valley Wing
The Service begins
Welcome and Address by Padre Charles Lewis
A reading by Cllr Paul Miller, Armed Forces Champion, ‘VE Day 1945 - Churchill’s Speech to the British People’
The Mayor is invited by Padre Charles Lewis to raise the VE Day Commemorative flag
Reverend Steve McKay to welcome Hatch Warren School Choir to sing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’
Reverend Steve McKay to thank Hatch Warren School and to welcome Barbara Feuillade-Cole to speak ‘What VE Day was like to them’
A reading by Cllr Ale Lee, Arm Forces Champion – Remembering those who fought
Thanks will be given to the veteran and prayers will be read by Reverend Steve McKay
Padre Charles Lewis to thank all for attending
Invited guests, veterans/ families, refreshments served in the Mayoral Parlour