You are in > manchester.com  > News > Manchester pays tribute to fallen soldiers

General Manchester news

Manchester pays tribute to fallen soldiers

12/11/2007

Manchester remembered its fallen soldiers yesterday in a Remembrance Sunday event that saw the Lord Mayor of Manchester lead a procession from the town hall in Albert Square.

Councillor Glynn Evans and his wife, lady mayoress Hayley Evans, were joined by senior representatives from the Army, Air Force, Navy, the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment and the Royal British Legion.

The procession, which was accompanied by the Greater Manchester Police Band, began at 10:45 GMT and made its way to the cenotaph in St Peter's Square. The Last Post was sounded to mark the start of the two-minute silence at 11:00 GMT.

Also in attendance were members of the city council, local MPs and religious leaders from the Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities.

The Lord Mayor, who laid a wreath at the cenotaph, said: "Remembrance Sunday is a time for Manchester people to unite and remember all those who have served our country and those who continue to do so.

"It is a great honour for me to lead this procession. I urge people to support the Royal British Legion in their fundraising and to wear a poppy with pride."

Since 2001, seven soldiers from Manchester have died in Afghanistan and Iraq out of a national total of 253, according to the Ministry of Defence.