VJ Day 80 commemorated in a moving Sunset Service
VJ Day 80 was commemorated in Hungerford in a moving Sunset Service, with the Union Jack flag being lowered (a ceremonial act that occurs every day on a Navy ship) at precisely 8.28pm. This came at the end of a service of remembrance for the end of the Second World War with the surrender of Japan on 15th August 1945.
The commemoration began around 8pm with the Hungerford Royal British Legion presenting Hungerford Town Council with a bench, paid for from some of the proceeds of the very successful D-Day 80 commemoration last year. The back of the bench depicts military figures and equipment, with the inscription “Lest we forget”.
John Parry read out the more than thirty names of those from Hungerford who fell during the Second World War, and attendees offered up the beautiful hymn “I vow to thee my country” led by the Hungerford Town Band. There followed the most solemn moments of the service, including Last Post, the Exhortation tribute – “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old…” – to the those who sacrificed their lives (originally from Robert Laurence Binyon’s poem “For the Fallen”) and the Kohima Epitaph – Kohima is in North-East India – which makes such a clear and direct appeal that “When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today.” And a two minutes silence.
Wreaths were laid by the Royal British Legion, Hungerford Town Council and the Town & Manor of Hungerford before prayers, led by Rev Marcia Wadham.
It was a beautiful service in beautiful Berkshire marking a pivotal moment, eighty years ago a long way away, that is still very relevant today.
Photos by kind permission of Redwater Images
