Remembrance during COVID

15 October 2020

The Government has announced that, while there will be a service at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, the march past involving up to 10,000 veterans including SSAFA volunteers, staff and beneficiaries will not take place.

The event will be run under strict Covid-secure guidelines, while some veterans have been invited, attendance will be kept to a minimum and strict social distancing measures will be in place. Members of the public are also being asked to mark this year’s Remembrance Sunday service on Sunday 8 November at home rather than at the Cenotaph.

Lt General Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity said: “Recognising the service and sacrifice of those who serve this Nation in its Armed Forces around and on Remembrance Sunday is extremely important. In these challenging times and due to COVID, it is a great pity – though not unexpected, that this cannot include the traditional march past at the Cenotaph in London and the many other gatherings up and down the country.

“However, and in the year which marked the 75 anniversaries of both VE and VJ Day, I would urge everybody still to mark this significant annual event, reflecting on how much we all owe these men and women and being prepared to support them when they need assistance.”

There will still of course be a two minutes national silence on the Sunday at 11am, and again on the 11 November at 11am. We hope everyone will be able to join in as we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

You can read the government's announcement in full here.