GALLERY: Crowds line the streets in Great Dunmow on Remembrance Sunday
AFGHANISTAN was clearly on the minds of Great Dunmow residents as a record number turned out for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony. Shortly before 11am on Sunday crowds gathered at the War Memorial in the High Street to pay their respects during an outd
AFGHANISTAN was clearly on the minds of Great Dunmow residents as a record number turned out for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony.
Shortly before 11am on Sunday crowds gathered at the War Memorial in the High Street to pay their respects during an outdoor service led by St Mary's vicar Rev David Ainge.
War veterans from the Dunmow branch of the British Legion were the guests of honour and were applauded as they marched around the cenotaph.
Branch chairman, Margaret Cole, said: "The crowd which had gathered was bigger than ever before. In places it was three deep and I have never known it to be like that before.
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"It must be because of what is going on in Afghanistan. The fact the soldiers are dying or being injured regularly - it is always in the news. The lives that are being lost are touching everyone's hearts and it led to a very emotional ceremony on Sunday."
During the ceremony a lone bugler, John Green, played the last post as members of the public joined veterans, policemen, firemen, air force cadets, and local dignitaries in observing a two-minute silence.
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British legion president John Bennett read out a citation through a public address system that had been installed for the day to allow people to hear the speeches.
Afterwards the veterans led a march up New Street to the United Reform Church for a further ceremony of remembrance, as they passed the crowds they were met with spontaneous applause.
Mrs Cole said: "It is the third year that the veterans have been applauded - they really do a appreciate it.
"The United Reform Church was completely full by the time the main service started. It was wonderful to see so many people come along and pay their respects."
Members of the public left individual crosses alongside the poppy wreaths laid down on the memorial - almost all of them bore words of support for the armed forces currently based in Afghanistan.
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