Benajarafe Remembrance Day Service

For the second year running, Jim and Pat Haines and PHF PDG Brian Piccolo attended the BENAJARAFE Branch of the Royal British Legion Remembrance Service near Malaga on November 13th. It was a truly beautiful day, and the Service is held in the lovely outdoor area of the Restaurant Puerto Niza, overlooking the Mediterranean.

Brian was singing in the TAPAS Choir, as last year, and again, he kindly invited us as his guests.

The TAPAS Choir began the proceedings with the singing of some beautiful and memorable songs, including ‘’I Believe,’’ ‘’Run’’ and the iconic Leonard Cohen composition, ‘’Hallelujah.’’

The Service began with  Dave Pusey, the Presiding member and Chair of the Benarajafe Branch, welcoming everybody, and thanking everyone that had made the Gathering possible.  

The Presiding Minister, Revd. Doreen Cage then led the Service of Remembrance, invoking words from the Old and The New Testament.

One of the invocations was most touching… ‘’We pray for all who in bereavement, disability and pain continue to suffer the consequences of Fighting and Terror.’’

During the singing of ‘’Onward Christian Soldiers’’  the Standards of the two Branches of  the Spain South Legion were paraded.

Revd. Cage then read the Exhortation, and the Congregation affirmed.. ‘’WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.’’

The Last Post was then played, followed by the two Minute Silence, and the Reveille.

Revd. Doreen then received the Standard.

The address by Doreen was very encouraging, but equally challenging. She preached on the theme of LIGHT. She reminded us of the fact that the situation in Syria constantly reminds us of the constant presence of Terror and its’ accompanying darkness. In order for darkness to be defeated, she reminded us, there need to be beacons of light, and as Christians, it is our duty to help shed the LIGHT that Jesus bought into the World, into the darkness of today’s world. She spoke of her own experiences of visiting the Poppy fields in Flanders, and the fact that her own son had been deployed to a War Zone. She praised the work of the BRITISH LEGION and its’ support to returning Service Personnel. She reminded us of the  attributes mentioned in St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians..  Faith, Hope and Charity.

During the singing of ‘’Eternal Father strong to save’’ the three Services laid their Wreaths.

Also at this point in the Service, folk were able to place crosses in the Garden of Remembrance.

A collection for the Poppy Appeal was taken, during the singing of ‘’Abide with me.’’

Reverend Doreen then gave the final Blessing, asking the Congregation to affirm that we would do all in our power to strive for Peace, Responsible Living and Faithful Service.

The National Anthems of Spain and the UK were played. This was followed by the CITATION.

The Service proper then concluded with the KOHIMA EPITAPH.

‘’When you go home tell of us and say,

For your tomorrow, we gave our today.’’

The TAPAS Choir then led the Congregation in some Community Singing of lots of the old War songs, which was great fun, FOR ALL OF US!!

Afterward, we all went into the Puerto Niza Restaurant and had a lovely Lunch, with great company. There was an Auction and a very good Raffle, ably arranged by Dave Pusey and his wife, and a good and happy time was had by all!! The afternoon continued with a Musician singing and entertaining us with his Guitar, and many folk were up and dancing the Afternoon away, including BP!! No surprise there then!!

A thoroughly lovely and memorable day, as can be seen from the photographs. { Just a note of interest… The photograph of the Folk standing by the Bikes, are the BIKER SECTION of the Benajarafe Branch of BL, including Dave Pusey, in the pink, the Presiding Member, who organised the day.}

The British Legion was formed on July 1st. 1921. This year is its 92nd. Anniversary.

At the end of WW1 in 1918, war veterans were told that they would be returning to a Country fit for Kings. When they actually arrived home, those who made it, found Poverty and unemployment. As was to be expected, there were large numbers of injured who could not fend for themselves or their Families. As a result, a number of Charities were set up to support these hapless souls, but it soon transpired that not much was being achieved, or that they were competing with one another for the little funds that were available.

Accordingly, they banded together and the BRITISH LEGION was formed.

The aims of the Legion were to promote the Welfare of those who were serving, or who had served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their dependants.

They championed the cause for the War Heroes, but before the task could be completed, WW2 broke out, so the work continued, and the aims laid down in 1921, still remain today.

Due to the valiant efforts of the Legion, the title ‘’ROYAL’’ was added in its’ 50th. Anniversary year, in JUNE 1971.  

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Thanks to Pat Haines for supplying above story & photos