VE Day: Wolverhampton pays its respects
"It's about remembering, with compassion, those who never came back" were the words of the chairman of the Wolverhampton central branch of the Royal British legion, at a special ceremony to commemorate Victory in Europe day.
The event took place today at the Cenotaph in St Peter's Square, Wolverhampton.
The ceremony was attended by veterans, including standard bearers and the Mayor and Mayoress of Wolverhampton.
Lyndon Purnell, aged 81, who is the chairman of the Wolverhampton central branch of the Royal British legion said: "It's important that we remember the soldiers, the sailors, the airman and the politicians, all the men that led us to victory.
"It's about remembering with compassion, those who never came back and all those lads who never made it home."
The service, which started at 11.30 with a veterans parade just outside of Wolverhampton Civic Centre, included speeches from Mayor, Councillor Ian Brookfield.
He said: "This is an important milestone in our history in the defeat of fascism, which has always been fought against, and we're here to thank and rejoice in that victory and also remember the lads that didn't come home. Also the families at home who were bereaved and worked hard, and in some cases lost their lives. We're here at the 71st year and we say we will remember them and in Wolverhampton and indeed across the country we continue to do that. I'm sure in another 70 years we'll still remembering them and it's quite right that we should do so."
Veteran Brian Fellows, president of the Royal British Legion, the city of Wolverhampton central branch, aged 97, lives in Tettenhall who was stationed in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany during the war, said: "It is a very important thing for me because I left a lot of my pals behind, left them in their graves. So we should remember them and that they never came back."
