The Fallen Are Remembered At Empty Cenotaph Due To Pandemic

This year's Remembrance Sunday commemorations looked starkly different to any we've ever seen before due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Images captured up and down the country show social distanced soldiers at Cenotaph memorials, while those wishing to pay their respects were told by the Royal British Legion to step out onto their doorsteps for the two minute silence.

Stephen Wray

Elaine Overend

PA

Stephen Wray

As you can imagine, the difference to previous years - where military parades are the standard, has not gone unnoticed.

Taking to Twitter, one person wrote: "Watching Remembrance Sunday without the veterans themselves is just not the same, seeing the old warriors strutting their stuff is what makes it for me."

The Queen took part in the tributes, attending a 'reduced service' at the Cenotaph in London, having attended a service at Westminster Abbey last week.

The Royal British Legion urged people to still pay their respects, but said due to the restrictions they could step out onto their doorsteps or display a poppy in their window.

The Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion's Director General, Charles Byrne said: "Remembrance is a unique time in the year when people from all communities, cultures and ages come together and pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces community, past and present.

"This year, however, we can't stand together at Remembrance services and therefore the Legion is urging people to participate remotely and visually show their support by placing a poppy in their window, or standing on their doorstep for the Two Minute Silence."

Some people have also paid their respects by creating window displays at their homes.

Elaine Overend

You can download and print off a poppy from The Royal British Legion website, or draw your own - and you can tune into the Festival of Remembrance and service at the Cenotaph on BBC One this morning.

The charity is also urging people to donate, if they can - after face-to-face collections have been cancelled due to the pandemic, the Royal British Legion says it could lose out on millions of pounds.

If you want to donate, or download a poppy, you can do so here.

Topics: UK News

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19