Burma Star Association Standard is laid-up ahead of launch of Lincolnshire Poppy Appeal
The Skegness and Mablethorpe Burma Star Association Standard has been laid-up ahead of launch of the Lincolnshire Poppy Appeal in an emotional ceremony in the presence of the Royal British Legion at St Matthew's Church in Skegness. The service also saw a new Standard dedicated for the Skegness branch of the Royal British Legion.
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00:00 The standard of the Skegness and Mablethorpe branch of the Burma Star Association has been formally laid up ahead of the launch of the Lincolnshire Poppy Appeal.
00:11 Sadly, there are no more Burma Star veterans in the association and members of the Royal British Legion, guests and local dignitaries gathered at St Matthew's Church in Skegness to see the standard paraded for the very last time.
00:29 At the going down of the song and in the morning, we will remember them.
00:37 We will remember them.
00:41 [Reveille]
00:43 [Reveille]
01:02 [Reveille]
01:18 [Reveille]
01:30 [Reveille]
01:42 [Reveille]
01:53 [Reveille]
02:10 [Reveille]
02:23 I accept this charge. May the departed rest in peace and rise in glory.
02:36 This is a sad day for you, isn't it?
02:40 Yes, because we have no members of the Burma Star left. Our last person died two years ago, that was the Vice President, and now we do not need it at a funeral and I always promised the President that it would be laid up properly.
02:58 And that's what today's all about.
03:00 It is. Reg Bowers, it's his day too and I'm thinking about him today.
03:05 Les, this must be an honour for you to do this today.
03:09 Yes, I've been carrying it for 20-something years. I'm very sad.
03:17 Members, we're laying up the standard. I think that's the longest standard I'm the last Burma Star in the district.
03:30 The ceremony also saw the standard of the Stennis Branch of the Royal British Legion laid up, and a new one dedicated.
03:39 [Stennis Branch of the Royal British Legion]
03:43 [Stennis Branch of the Royal British Legion]
04:08 And it was done. And it was done, isn't it?
04:25 We do dedicate and set apart this standard, that it may be a sign of our duty towards our kingdom country, in the sight of God, and in the service of the Royal British Legion.
04:39 It's been quite an emotional service today, hasn't it?
04:42 It certainly has. It's one of those services where you hope a standard will never be laid up, but sadly the Burma Star standard has to be laid up because there's nobody of my age group now able to carry it and to take it on parade. And the veterans are paid in past.
05:02 Now next week is the launch of the Poppy Appeal. Do days like this make it even more important for people to remember the veterans?
05:13 I think it's very, very, very important. And like you say, next Saturday is our Poppy Appeal launch for Lincolnshire. And the vicar today, the Reverend Peter Coates, I think, you know, summed up the story that he gave about the gentleman who served out in Burma, what it's all about.
05:33 And wearing the poppy for the next weeks is very important and everybody should remember, and especially the Army Cadets today, because they're all going to be with us next week. And they're very proud to be coming and being the future generation of the Poppy Appeal.
05:49 The 2023 Lincolnshire Poppy Appeal will be launched at East Kirkby Aviation Centre on Saturday, October 28.
06:01 Thank you.
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