Salford veterans paid tribute to the fallen at a Remembrance Day ceremony at Broughton House Veteran Care Village.
A whole host of residents and staff crowded at the veteran care home paid tribute yesterday to those who fought in wars, including all fallen servicemen and women.
During the ceremony, The Last Post was played along with a bugler playing Reveille, which preceded a two-minute silence.
Among the names in attendance was a 100-year-old D-Day paratrooper who led the service, and Peter Belcher, a sergeant in the Parachute Regiment during the Second World War.
Peter Belcher read the Lord’s Prayer and the Kohima Epitaph during the heartfelt ceremony, with many residents touched by the proceedings.
Following the ceremony, Belcher said: “It’s important to remember the men and women who fell in wars. Those fighting in World War One had it much worse than we did, battling in the trenches.”
Broughton House opened in 1916 and has cared for over 8,000 veterans in that time, after a recent redevelopment, the complex now is a 64-bed care home.
It has served and dedicated time to veterans with dementia for over 100 years, and also offers an Armed Forces Support Hub, which provides help for members of the community.
Also taking part in the event was Major Andrew Dinning, who served as a commando with the Royal Marines, as well as Captain Robert McMillan with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
The former read the poem In Flanders Fields, and the latter laid the wreath.
Lt Sandy MacDonald served in the Royal Artillery and read the Exhortation in the events after Major Dinning and Captain McMillan.
Many of the veterans were draped in medals while wearing their blazers; the service was attended as well by current military personnel.
Also featuring at the ceremony was the lighting of Lamp Lights of Peace from both world wars, which involved traditional oil lanterns that represent ‘lights of peace’.
To close the ceremony, students from St. Philip’s Primary School in Broughton sang hymns for the veterans and those in attendance.
Following the event, Chief executive of Broughton House, Karen Miller expressed the importance of the event, she said: “The service marks an important occasion for our residents to remember their fallen colleagues and the sacrifices made by all service personnel.
“It’s really important for future generations to appreciate what they went through in order to defend our country and our freedoms,” she added.
Many residents also attended the Remembrance Sunday service at the Salford Cenotaph. Broughton House resident Gary Taylor was among those involved in that service reading the Exhortation.
Remembrance events have stretched across Salford the entire weekend, with many celebrating and paying tribute to those who fought and fell during battle and wars in the country and the city.
For further Remembrance Day coverage, Agecroft War Memorial hosted a service yesterday that can be read here.
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