As the Head of the Nation, HM Queen Elizabeth leads the country in remembering those who have fallen in wars and other conflicts. This is marked on 11th November each year as a time to remember. There is an official ceremony at the Cenotaph in Central London which is the focal point for the nation and is televised. Her Majesty, The Queen leads this time with senior Royal Family members, Government officials and representatives of the Religious communities to lay wreaths of poppies. 2 minutes of silence observed at 11am with the playing of the Last Post by a bugle player.
A Remembrance Sunday service is held on 2nd Sunday of November which Her Majesty attends with many of those who attend the Armistice Day remembrance ceremony.
Let us pray:
‘Remember the days of long ago; think about the generations past. Ask your father, and he will inform you. Inquire of your elders, and they will tell you.’ Deuteronomy 32:7 NLT
‘God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’ Matthew 5:4 NLT
Father God, thank you that HM Queen Elizabeth leads the nation in this way to remember those in the nation who have served the nation but fallen in battle. Thank you that across the country, and even in different nations of the world, this day is marked to remember loved ones. As a national sense of mourning and solemnness, we pray that you would be so close to those for whom this is a difficult day. We ask that you would be with, and lavish great comfort upon, those who remember and mourn. As there are many who continue to serve even today in difficult situations around the world, we pray that you would be with their families as they are parted.
Lord, as we look in the Bible, there are many times when the people had to remember occasions and historic events that had passed, but the heritage that they stood on and the generations who had gone before them. As Moses told the people before Joshua took over, they were to remember previous generations and continue to tell future generations about the past. So, Lord, help me to play my part in telling future generations why Remembrance Day is important in the nation and marked in this particular way.
As we consider the history of our families and generation, we pray that you would highlight events and people of previous generations that we need to recount, remember, give thanks for and tell forth. Although these were often difficult times, we pray that commemoration days such as this would be marks of your great faithfulness to encourage the generations to come.
In Your name I ask, Lord,
Amen
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Head of the Nation of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces