The Uniformed Organisations Advisory Group is one of five advisory groups supporting the Lord Lieutenant, the others being the Business Group, the Community Group, the Honours Group, and the Media Group. The role of the Uniformed Organisations Advisory Group is:
· To represent the Lieutenancy at events in this sector and if so asked by the Lord Lieutenant.
· To ensure that the Lieutenancy fully supports the ‘Firm Base’ strategy for Service personnel – past and present.
· To arrange for wreath to be laid by members of the Lieutenancy at War Memorials throughout the area on Remembrance Sunday (and at other notable commemorative events).
The Advisory Group has been strengthened over the past few months with the appointment of a number of new Depute Lieutenants and their assignment to the Group. This includes Alison Plummer DL and Alastair Peat DL. Alongside Brian Miller DL, Louis Munn DL, Colonel Stuart Roberts DL and Colonel Ted Shields MBE DL, the Group has a strong network of contacts with access to many of the uniformed organisations within North and South Lanarkshire. However, we are keen to establish further contact with and provide support to all uniformed organisations, particularly where the presence of the Lord Lieutenant, or her representative, at notable events would be appropriate.
The next significant event in the calendar is Remembrance Sunday which is held throughout the United Kingdom, and overseas, as a day to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. It is held on the second Sunday in November (the Sunday nearest to 11th November (Armistice Day) the anniversary of the end of hostilities in World War I in 1918).
Remembrance Sunday is an opportunity for us to unite across faiths, cultures, and backgrounds to remember the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth. It is marked by ceremonies at local war memorials in most cities, towns and villages, attended by civic dignitaries, ex-servicemen and –women, representatives of the British Legion and other veterans’ organisations, members of local armed forces regular and reserve units, military cadet forces, and youth organisations.
As we approach Remembrance Sunday on 12th November, the Lanarkshire Lieutenancy currently has plans to lay over sixty wreaths at towns and villages right across North and South Lanarkshire. The Lord Lieutenant, Lady Susan Haughey CBE, or her representatives will be present throughout Lanarkshire attending as many services as possible as we remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life.
“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning ,
We will remember them.”