Bahrain

The British Embassy of Bahrain Commemorates Annual Remembrance Day

The annual Remembrance Day Service was commemorated on Sunday with a wreath-laying ceremony at the British Embassy in Manama.

The event, which is held annually to remember British and Commonwealth servicemen and women who have given their lives in the line of duty, was attended by His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif Al Zayani, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister. The service was hosted by the British Ambassador to Bahrain, Alastair Long, and was attended by other diplomats, officials, and members of the diplomatic and expatriate communities. The commemorations remember the armed forces community, British and Commonwealth veterans, the allies who fought alongside the UK and the civilian men and women involved in the two world wars and later conflicts.

Remembrance Day, also known as Armistice Day or sometimes Poppy Day, is commemorated every year on and around November 11th.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare during the First World War. In many parts of the world, people observe a two-minute silence at 11am every 11 November, to remember those who lost their lives during the First World War, World War II, and more recent conflicts.  If a ceremony is impractical on November 11, a service is often performed on the nearest Sunday, as for this year.

Marking the day, Ambassador Alastair Long said, “Thousands of Remembrance services have been taking place this weekend across the UK and in British embassies all over the world. I am honoured to host this service here in Bahrain, where we have a long history of partnership and where His Majesty the King continues to show international leadership on peaceful coexistence.

The poppies that many of us are wearing today are both a reminder of those who have died fighting for a better tomorrow and also a symbol of hope for peace today and in the future. Today we remembered the brave Bahraini soldiers that recently lost their lives on the Yemen/Saudi border, and we also held in our thoughts other conflicts including that in Israel and Gaza”.

Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Alastair Kern said, “Today, we honour those who serve to defend our freedoms, our values, and our lives. It is also an opportunity to remember the sacrifices of the Armed Forces communities in the UK and the Commonwealth. This special day allows us to acknowledge the innocent civilians who lost their lives in conflicts and to prompt people from different faiths, backgrounds, and cultures to unite and reflect on what we all have in common. The symbol of Remembrance is a red poppy, which signifies both; remembering those who we have lost and hoping for a peaceful future”.

As in previous years, the British Embassy will support the Royal British Legion’s Remembrance campaign, maintaining the UK’s engagement with Remembrance.

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