Hundreds of people pay respect in Inverness
HUNDREDS of people attended a ceremony to mark Armistice Day in front of the Town House at 11am today.
For the first time since World War II, traffic in Inverness was stopped as a mark of respect for the memory of fallen service men and women.
Around 400 people were in the area to pay tribute to sacrifices made by those who saw action in both world wars.
Provost Jimmy Gray was joined by fellow members of Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee, council staff and members of the Royal British Legion Scotland.
After short readings from 10.55am, a two-minute silence was held from 11am. A piper played a lament.
"The Act of Remembrance is growing in importance to the council and the community of Inverness," said Provost Gray. "As a measure of its importance, this is the first time that traffic has been stopped in Inverness on Armistice Day since the Second World War."
Traffic was stopped in front of the Town House from 10.55am to 11.05am as a mark of respect during the Remembrance ceremony.
Tomorrow afternoon members of the Royal British Legion Scotland along with Air, Army and Sea Cadets will be visiting Kilvean and Torvean Cemeteries to remember the service paid by those who lost their lives by marking graves of war and ex-servicemen and women’s graves with poppies.
On Sunday, the Royal British Legion Scotland and Salvation Army bands and uniformed youth groups will march from Huntly Street at 2.20pm with the flag bearers and arrive at Cavell Gardens 30 minutes later. They will be followed by local MPs and MSPs and council officials.
A service, conducted by Rev Dr Peter Howson, will then be held at the gardens, which this week opened a Field of Remembrance.
Motorists have been urged by the legion not to leave their vehicles parked overnight on Saturday in Huntly Street to allow for the parade.
In Nairn, a parade, organised by the town’s legion members, will assemble on Cawdor Street at 10.15am on Sunday.
It will make its way to a service of remembrance in the Old Parish Church, Seabank Road, at 10.45am which will be followed by the laying of wreaths at noon at the war memorial.
