THE Edinburgh Garden and Field of Remembrance, in commemoration of Britain’s war dead, has opened for another year in Princes Street Gardens.
The solemn ceremony took on extra significance this year, as the Royal British Legion, which organises remembrance events, marked 80 years since the end of the Second World War, where around 383,600 British military personnel and 67,100 civilians were killed.
The opening ceremony took place in the shadow of the Sir Walter Scott Monument and was attended by dignitaries of the British Army, the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
The garden appears every year in Edinburgh and is populated by hundreds of red poppies, which symbolise the sacrifices of British soldiers in warfare.
Wreaths were laid by representatives of the Royal British Legion, and current and former members of the armed forces.
The Garden of Remembrance is a much-loved feature of the city centre every year when it appears for the period surrounding Remembrance Day.
Remembrance Day takes place every year in Britain and countries in the Commonwealth of Nations on 11 November.
The poppy is worn by those wishing to display their commitment to remembering the fallen of all Britain’s wars.
The poppy became a popular symbol of remembrance following the First World War, when a war poem called In Flanders Fields by John McCrae described red poppies growing among war graves in Belgium.
Remembrance Day takes place on 11 November to commemorate the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when First World War hostilities ended, and an armistice was signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente nations.
The Royal British Legion took to social media to share pictures and announce the ceremony: “Princes Street Gardens was the venue today for the Royal British Legion Scotland Service of Dedication for the Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance.
“Hundreds of attendees watched as wreaths were laid in memory of the fallen during the one-hour long service.
“Representatives of the Army, Navy and Air Force, along with civil dignitaries, paid their respects by laying wreaths and crosses at the Crosses of their Regiments and that of the Unknown Soldier.”
The Royal British legion also opened another Garden of Remembrance yesterday outside Kelvinhall Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.
The City of Edinburgh Council posted an update about the service, saying: “The beautiful memorial is a well-loved and poignant addition to Edinburgh’s city centre for anyone wishing to stop by, pause, reflect, remember and give thanks.”
The Royal British Legion has been approached for comment.
The post Edinburgh Field of Remembrance opens in Princes Street Gardens appeared first on Deadline News.
