Remembrance Day wreaths will be laid by veterans of the Home Guard and Bermuda Contingent of the Caribbean Regiment for the first time this year.

Senator David Burch announced the landmark occasion yesterday, calling on members of the public to show their support for those who served to defend the Island both at home and abroad.

The Minister for Public Safety said the move followed expressions of "simmering feelings" by ex-servicemen and women who had felt excluded from the Remembrance Day Service.

"It's been 62 years since the end of the (Second World) War. In many instances there was a feeling of gratitude, but there is a fair amount of bitterness as well that it has been 62 years," said Sen. Burch.

He added: "But the steps we have taken so far in terms of these benefits (the Pensions and Gratuities Amendment Act) and in the steps we have announced today, will go some way as to ameliorating this."

The Minister also announced that since the introduction of The Pensions and Gratuities (War Service) Amendment Act 2007, the number of veterans receiving benefits has quadrupled to reach 136 ex-servicemen and women.

"When the Act was amended there were 26 veterans receiving benefits – to date there are 136 veterans receiving benefits and another 51 applications being processed," he said.

"The camaraderie and overall spirit of that occasion was inspirational and gave evidence to the fact that it is never too late to do the right thing."

Sen. Burch said: "Many of you will be aware of this Government's efforts to heal the divide in the treatment of war veterans of all descriptions who took up arms or served in the defence of these Islands both at home and abroad.

"Recently, my colleague the Minister of Finance Paula Cox and I were overjoyed at the attendance and response to our appeal for these men and women to register with the Department of Social Insurance to ensure that they received the pension benefits due to them under provisions we advanced in the Legislature."

The Act – which became law this summer – removed clauses to the 1947 Pensions and Gratuities Act which excluded some black veterans from receiving benefits. It aims to extend medical and dental benefits to ex-servicemen and women, and has doubled pensions from $400 to $800 a month.

The Island's Home Guard were originally denied pensions and benefits as the law only provided for those serving overseas, but Second World War veterans of the Bermuda Contingent of the Caribbean Regiment were also inadequately compensated for their years of service.

Describing the Cenotaph as "our most poignant national symbol of Remembrance", Sen. Burch said: "I am pleased to announce today that at my instance the Ceremonials Committee has considered and approved my recommendation that we take this process of healing one stage further.

"During our conversations with those who attended our luncheon we became aware of simmering feelings about our national service of Remembrance held each year on November 11 at this very place.

"Many felt that they were never made to feel part of this observance and therefore today I am appealing to all those men and women who served, whether you are members of the Bermuda War Veterans Association or not, whether you have never considered marching or not, to join the ranks of the proud veterans who will march from No. 1 Shed to the Cenotaph and take your rightful place among those who answered the call to protect Bermuda and our way of life.

"Come one, come all. The people of Bermuda need to see you and appreciate you for what you have done in an effort that quite simply saved the world from tyranny.

"Ladies and gentleman, as many of you will know, the most symbolic and moving portion of the ceremonies observed all over the world on this day is the laying of wreaths.

"For the first time this year, I am pleased to advise the public that wreaths will be laid by a representative of Bermuda's Home Guard and those who served in Bermuda during the War, and also by a representative of the First Battalion, Caribbean Regiment, Bermuda Contingent, the unit in which many black Bermudian soldiers served with distinction in the Middle East during the War.

"This will be an historic occasion and I am asking the public to support this Remembrance Day as we take steps to transform the ceremony into a true day of national remembrance. We will remember them, we will remember all of them."

Sen. Burch was joined yesterday by Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment, Lt. Col. William K. White ED, of whom he said: "His support of this act of inclusion is key to its success."

The Remembrance Day Service will be held this Sunday at 10.30 a.m.