Honouring our Veterans

Remembrance Sunday Ceremony at Elmslie Memorial Church

By Christopher Tobutt

“They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will Remember them,’” His Excellency the Governor, Martyn Roper, said at the Remembrance Day Ceremony on Sunday 13th November. Members of the Cayman Islands Veterans’ Association, together with dignitaries from Government, and detachments from all the uniformed services had all come to pay their respects to those who sacrificed their own life for our freedom in front of the Cenotaph at Elmslie Memorial Church. Mr. Loxley Banks, representing the Veterans, responded:  “When you go home, Tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow we gave our today.”

A gunshot, making the birds fly away into the clear blue sky, heralded the beginning of the two minute silence. They thought about those they had lost, as well as the thousands they have never met, who enabled us to live the life of freedom from tyranny we enjoy today. They thought about their families, left behind, and about the children they were never able to hold, or see growing up.

Many people from Cayman served in the two world wars and many other conflicts, and lost their lives, and there were children from different primary schools who solemnly laid beautiful wreathes of red, blazing poppies. But remembrance also means remembering Cayman’s brave seamen who lost their lives at sea, while sending their money home to their families, and making Cayman a better place, and so the wreath-laying was divided between the Elmslie Memorial Cenotaph and the Seaman’s Memorial two hundred yards up the road, by the Royal Watler Terminal.

H.E the Governor laid the first wreath at both locations, followed by Deputy Premier, Hon. Chris Saunders. Next came President of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, Chief Justice Ramsay Hale, Leader of the Opposition Hon. Roy McTaggart, and Loxley Banks. There followed many different leaders of churches and community groups, as well as Commissioner of Police and heads of all the uniformed detachments.

Pastor Joel Clarke of All Nations Pentecostal Church prayed: “Almighty God Our Heavenly Father, we remember with thanksgiving those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in the time of war. We pray that the offering of their lives may not have been in vain. By your grace, enable us this day to dedicate ourselves anew to the cause of justice, freedom and peace, and give us the wisdom and strength to build a better world for the honor and glory of your name. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord.”

Pastor Ray Hydes of the Church of God Universal prayed: “On this day of remembrance, O God as we recall those who died in the service of their country, we pray for the peace of the world. Guide the leaders of this and every nation and give them understanding of your righteous will, that the tragedy and horror of war may be averted by the coming generation, and men and women everywhere may be able to live in the freedom and fellowship of your kingdom.”