At 11 a.m., a two-minute silence marked the Cayman Islands’ observance of Remembrance Sunday today (8 November 2015). This year’s event commemorated all lives lost in World Wars I and II as well as those lost at sea.

Ceremonies took place simultaneously on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac starting at 10:45 a.m. The service was held in front of the Cenotaph at the Elmslie Memorial Church grounds on Grand Cayman and at the Memorial Cenotaph on the District Administration Lawn in Stake Bay on Cayman Brac.

Pinned with the symbolic poppies, Veterans and Seafarers Association members attending included those who served in World War II as well as the remaining Home guards who performed distinctive service at home during that war. With many of them wearing their senior years with distinct dignity, association members proved their strength and tenacity by standing throughout the whole event.

Also attending on Grand Cayman were Her Excellency the Governor, Helen Kilpatrick, Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, Court of Appeal President Sir John Chadwick, Mr. Justice Charles Quin, former Speaker Hon. Mary Lawrence, Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly and the clergy as well as the reigning Miss Cayman and contestants.

The ceremony began with a parade led by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) band and officers. Other participants were members of the Veterans Association; the Fire and Prison Services; Girls Brigade; Boy and Cub Scouts; Cadet Corps; the SDA Pathfinders and the Lions Club of Grand Cayman.

The ceremony also included the sounding of the Last Post and the laying of wreaths, led by the Governor, on behalf of organisations and individuals at the Elmslie Cenotaph and the Seamen’s Memorial.

This year, Year 6 prefects from George Town Primary School, Kaciann Wilson and Amare Hamilton also laid a wreath made by their schoolmates. The idea was to take forward their school research project on Caymanians, and in particular George Towners, who lost their lives at sea. Principal Marie Martin explained proceeds from a Dress Down Day on Friday raised funds for the local veterans. The funds raised would be presented to the veterans’ association on Tuesday, 10 November 2015 during a special assembly where veterans would be guest speakers, she added.

The parade closed with the detachments honouring Cayman’s veterans by marching past them as they stood to attention as a group, with Association President Capt. Dale Banks taking the salute.

On Cayman Brac, participants included Speaker of the House, Hon. Julianna O’Connor-Conolly, Deputy Premier Hon. Moses Kirkconnell, District Commissioner, Mr. Ernie Scott, Deputy District Commissioner, Mr. Mark Tibbetts and members of the Veterans’ and Seamen’s’ Society of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.

After the service, which also included the Last Post, the Act of Worship and the singing of hymns, wreaths were also laid at the cenotaph.

The event is organised annually by the Protocol Office and for all further information, contact the office number 244-3612 or [email protected].

Photo captions: Photos Bina Mani,GIS

Members of the Fire Services’ detachment march past the veterans whose association President Capt. Dale Banks takes the salute at the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at Elmslie Memorial Church on Grand Cayman.

The ceremony observes a two-minute silence precisely at 11 a.m.

The Governor, who opened the ceremony with The Bidding, lays the first wreath in remembrance of lives lost in the two World Wars as well as at sea.

The Premier lays a wreath at the seafarers’ memorial to commemorate lives lost at sea.

Oldest veteran in the Cayman Islands, Mr. Ewart Ebanks, 95, lays a wreath at the cenotaph on behalf of all veterans.

George Town Primary School Year 6 prefects Kaciann Wilson and Amare Hamilton arrive to lay the wreath made by their schoolmates on behalf of all Caymanians lost in action, notably from George Town.