Residents braved the rain today and gathered at the Cenotaph on Front Street to pay their respects to war veterans.

The annual Remembrance Day service is held on the anniversary of the end of the First World War, which came on November 11, 1918.

At about 11am, after two minutes of silence, Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, was the first to lay a wreath of poppies at the Cenotaph outside the Cabinet Office.

David Burt, the Premier, and Robert King, the Leader of the Opposition, were among the other dignitaries to lay wreaths as scores of onlookers under umbrellas looked on.

The service started with a march that included soldiers from the Royal Bermuda Regiment as well as members of the Bermuda Police Service, the Royal Bermuda Regiment Association, the Bermuda Sea Cadets, the RBR’s Junior Leaders, and Bermuda Scouts.

They were joined by veterans or their representatives, who also formed part of the parade at the Cenotaph.

Music was provided by the RBR’s Band and Corps of Drums together with members of the Salvation Army Bermuda Divisional Band, Somerset Brigade Band and the Bermuda Islands Pipe Band.

The Reverend Canon Calvert Prentis, of the Cathedral of The Most Holy Trinity in Hamilton, delivered prayers as sunlight peeked out from behind the clouds and rains subsided.

“Brethren, on this day of remembrance, we meet to pay tribute to all those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom in two world wars, especially those who served in defence of this land of ours and are here commemorated,” he said.

Residents sang along to the hymn Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus after which Mr Prentis prayed for the brave who “made the supreme sacrifice”.

Veterans who attended the event today said they were humbled to take part in the annual observance.

Arnold Allen, who retired from the RBR at the rank of Sergeant Major, said: “I get excited when it comes around because I serve for more than 30 years in the regiment”.

Mr Allen, the Sergeant-at-Arms in the Bermuda Parliament, said he also pays tribute to his late grandfather, who served in the Second World War, at this time of year.

He added: “For me it should be something that should be talked about in the schools, so that the young people can learn and that the history doesn’t get lost.

“As you can see there are fewer and fewer veterans from the war but there are a lot of us who served in peace times.

“If we don’t keep telling the history and telling those stories it’s going to die.”

Mr Allen said he felt encouraged by the large turnout of onlookers despite the rain and added: “It’s important that this happens each year.”

RBR Captain Travis Stevens, the parade commander, said it was an honour to take his place in front of all the units involved.

“It means so much to me because it’s a vote of confidence in my abilities and I was excited to show off what everyone had practised so hard to do,” he added.

“The theme of today was certainly resilience as much as it was about remembrance.

“We wanted to honour those who served for us, whether it was raining, blowing or shining and, barring any serious safety concerns such as lightning, we wanted the parade to go ahead as planned.

“The troops really impressed me with their mental fortitude and allowed themselves to really lock in when it was most needed.

“It’s important for them to remember, as well, that our forefathers and foremothers endured much harsher conditions. For us to get out and celebrate those people in conditions that were not so sunny was by far the easiest thing that most of us have done this week.”

Private Mikhyla Ming, 20, was one of the RBR wreath bearers at the commemoration today.

The Bermuda College student described her experience as “beautiful”.

Private Ming, from Sandys, said: “We are honouring veterans who served on Bermuda’s behalf and they sacrificed their lives for us.”

Reflecting on the support shown to serving soldiers by members of the community, she added: “Before, when I was on the outside looking in, I looked up to these people.

“To actually be a part of it is really inspiring, it makes me want to continue on my journey in the regiment and potentially make this a career.”

Antony Siese, who served in the Royal Army Medical Corps from 1956, said he felt honoured to attend the observance today.

He noted: “I’ve lived in Bermuda for 64 years and I usually go out to the parade each year.”

Susie Tindall was excited to be at the ceremony, which she said was “fantastic”.

She said she was also supporting her daughters, one of whom is a member of the Bermuda Islands Pipe Band and another is a member of the Bermuda Sea Cadets.

“Everyone did a fantastic job out there,” Ms Tindall added.

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