Berlin Flys The Flag

Flying

the Flag in Berlin. Armed Forces Day Parade Berlin.

 

This was the first Armed Forces Day Parade to be held in Berlin and we decided that the most appropriate place would be at the CWGC (Berlin War Cemetery) on Heerstrasse.

A lot of time and effort in the planning stages paid off and all went pretty smoothly with any last minute hitches being quickly sorted out.

The weather turned out nice for us. The sun shining during the whole of the proceedings.

The Black Kilts Pipes and Drum Band led the parade along the Heerstrasse Service road,
with the local Police stopped any traffic until the parade had reached the cemetery entrance.

The Parade then broke ranks at the entrance to reform back inside the main part of the cemetery, just inside the gates.

The Royal British Legion Standard flew alongside the Union Flag, with Standards from two French Veteran associations and the Standard of the Polish Airborne Service Association in Germany.

Our Programme was based on Thanking the Armed Forces, remembering those lost in war and conflicts plus Reconciliation between foes.

The Rev Max Homewood conducted the service and the band of the Salvation Army played musical accompaniment for the hymn singing.

The event went well and we hope to make this a regular feature here in Berlin.

Altogether, a great way to celebrate our Armed Forces.
Our Secretary, Rory Dyer  took more than 100 photographs, so all the good ones will be posted on our Berlin Branch website.

A buffet was provided after the event at St George's Church hall.

As Chairman of the Royal British Legion Berlin, I would like to point out that a lot of hard work and effort was put into making this a successful day and our Vice Chairman Frank knox deserves

great  praise for his efforts in helping to organise the Parade and also being Drum Major.

Mention must also go to our Officiating Minister the Rev Max Homewood, who again provided a memorable service for our Armed Forces Service Personnel, both past and present.

 Thanks too for the help provided by the Bundeswehr, who supplied the Loud speaker system, and to Jonathan Reeves the Head Gardener at the Cemetery for his help and attendance.

Thanks to all those who helped in the arrangements to make this such a great day and lastly a heartty thank you for both daughters of Peter, our standard Bearer, who worked hard to produce the buffet following the service.

It is moments like today that makes being a member of the Royal British Legion mean so much and makes me extremely proud of our Berlin Branch.

T.C.Smith

Order of Service

 

1.         Welcome and Introduction

2.         Hymn:  "Make me a Channel of Your Peace"      

3.         Prayer

 

4.         Laying of Wreaths  Lament played by Herr Andreas Herring

 

5.         Calls to Remembrance

Representatives of each nation are invited to lay their wreath and to stand together for the exhortation.

 

After the exhortation, please respond with the words,

"We will remember them!"

 

6.         The Last Post

 

7.         One Minute's Silence

 

8.         Reveille

 

9.         The Kohima Epitaph

 

10.      Scripture Reading: Matthew 6: 5 - 15.

 

11.      The Sermon

 

12.      Hymn:  "Forgive our Sins as we Forgive"

               

13.      Prayer of thanks for our Armed Forces, of remembrance and for reconciliation between foes

 

14.      Hymn.  "For the Healing of the Nations"

 

         15.      The Benediction

 

 

After the Service the members of the Royal British Legion

Berlin Branch cordially invite you to light refreshments at

St George's Church Hall, in Preußen Allee.

 

Branch President:    Brigadier Iain Thomson CBE

Branch Chairman:    Mr Tom Smith

Officiating Minister:  Rev Max Homewood               

 

A Service of worship to God to thank Him for our Armed Forces of today, to remember those lost in war and to pray for reconciliation between foes

 

held at the

 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Heerstraße, Berlin

 

11.00

Saturday, 26 June 2010

 

Music by:       Salvation Army Band

Band Master: Mr Mervyn Cree

                        Black Kilts Pipes and Drums Band

Pipe Major:  Herr Andreas Herring

Drum Major: Mr Frank Knox

 

Binyon's Lines

 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

 

We will remember them.

 

 

The Kohima Epitaph

 

"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,

For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today"