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An Act of Remembrance on the River Thames
An important service of commemoration is being held on November 11th 2009 at Westminster Abbey. There is also a service of remembrance being held at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday 8th November. With the passing of the last British servicemen who saw active duty during World War One, these services are of particular significance.
In addition, and for the very first time this year, it now been decided to conduct a solemn act of remembrance on the river in central London focussed around the observance of the two minute silence at 11am on 11th November and the subsequent laying of a wreath on the waters of the Thames.
All the major bodies connected with the River Thames including the Tower of London, The Company of Watermen and Lightermen and the Port of London Authority (PLA) are combining with the owner and operators of the historic vessel Havengore to organise this event. Large numbers of Londoners who worked in the docks and for the various public services and businesses along the river lost their lives in the Great War and it seems particularly appropriate to remember their sacrifice this year and in such a manner. A secondary advantage is that an act of remembrance actually conducted on the River Thames will connect this commemoration in a very tangible way to the element of water and hence to the sea.
Havengore was the longest serving vessel of the Port of London authority and was the carrier vessel used during the State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965. It was felt that her history made her the ideal vessel to be used as the centrepiece of this ceremony.
On November 11th, Havengore will retrace the journey used for Sir Winston Churchill's funeral, passing landmarks such as the Tower of London. The cruise will end in the waters just off the Houses of Parliament. As Big Ben chimes 11am, attendees will observe a two minute silence. After which, there will be a religious service culminating the placing of the wreath on the waters of the River Thames. An Army bugler will play the Last Post followed by Reveille.
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