Carmarthenshire Remembers

Crowds turned out in force today to attend the Remembrance Service in Carmarthen. Young and old alike lined the streets leading to the War Memorial on Priory Street.

VIPs included Sara Edwards, the Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, Helen Jones, the High Sheriff of Dyfed, Mayor of Carmarthen Emlyn Schiavone, and MP for Carmarthen Anne Davies.

The parade started off at Guildhall Square where members of the armed forces and community organisations gathered. Carmarthen Town Band led the parade onto King Street and St Peter’s Church. Civic Dignitaries took the salute outside of St Peter’s Civic Hall.

Once at the church, a large congregation sang hymns and heard readings from a number of young people from the Scouts, Brownies and Cadet forces. Standards were placed at the altar before the vicar of St Peter’s gave his reading focusing on peacemakers. A slideshow listing the names of the fallen played on a large TV screen in the church.

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Standards were gathered and the parade and dignitaries made their way out of the church to gather once more in order to march to the war memorial.

Crowds lined the pavements and the band and parade arrived at the memorial with 5 minutes to spare before 11am. Wreaths were placed at the memorial by organisations including the town and county council, Carmarthen Town Football Club, Carmarthen Quinns, Mid and West Fire and Rescue Service, Dyfed-Powys Police and countless representatives of the armed forces.

The last post and the reveille were sounded and the parade made its way back to Guildhall Square where they were dismissed.

MP for Carmarthen Anne Davies said that the town had done the armed forces proud. She said that a lot of work was being done within Carmarthenshire to support veterans and their families.

In Llanelli, dignitaries including Dame Nia Griffith MP and Lee Waters MS joined hundreds of people who braved the November chill to pay their respects at Llanelli Town Hall. The Royal British Legion Band led the parade from Murray Street before entering the Town Hall Gardens. Members of the armed forces and community organisations then paid their respects by laying wreaths at the war memorial. Following the service, the band led the parade along Church Street where dignitaries took the salute.

Services of Remembrance took place across Carmarthenshire in towns like Llandeilo, Burry Port and Ammanford.

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Veteran numbers are dwindling but the parade marshall at Carmarthen said it was still as important as ever for people to attend. Ceremonies to mark 11.11.11 will take place across the county on Monday.