WITH regards to your headlines over Great Harwood's Remembrance Sunday.

I totally agree with the British Legion's stance, that the people of Great Harwood should be present at the cenotaph at 11 o'clock, to observe the two-minute silence.

I think that it is quite a shame that the Vicar of the Parish Church feels she cannot accommodate the wishes of what, I'm sure, the majority of the townsfolk would like.

It is almost a Draconian attitude, unfortunately for her, the days when the church dictated to the populace are at an end and have been for many years.

I have attended the church service on a number of occasions, the two-minute silence not being observed at 11 o'clock (on my recollection).

Indeed, apart from the procession at the beginning of the service where flags are placed on the altar, and the latter stages of service, to all intents and purposes it seems to be an ordinary Sunday service with very little mention of the very reason why we are all there.

I salute the members of the Great Harwood Branch of the British Legion for "standing their guard' over this issue.

It has always seemed "out of order" to me, when on hearing the "sounding off" for two-minute silence on Remembrance Sunday there are no representatives at the most poignant monument in Great Harwood.

In memory of all those who lost their lives for our freedom, one inconvenience, on one day in a year, is after all, very little to ask!

If the church is unable to accommodate in future, it may be a good idea for the parade to attend the War Memorial at the correct time of 11 o'clock and then join the congregation in the Parish Church for the last 20 minutes of the service, where indeed the service does address the very meaning of Remembrance Sunday -- that of paying tribute to all those who gave their lives so freely for all of us.

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