‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.’
And so on a bright and fresh Remembrance Sunday morning, we in Pagham gathered to honour the war-dead and to pray for peace.
From servers’ cassocks and clerical vestments to various poppy-themed installations and poppies on coats and wreaths, the church was a flash of red: the colour of the martyrs’ blood and sacrifice, but perhaps also an enduring sign of life and vitality.
It was humbling to see a full and smartly-dressed congregation with representation from The Royal British Legion, the Scouting Movement, the Nautical Training Corps and civic leaders, as well as many medals on display. There was also a hopeful coming-together of the generations as all ages had been touched by at least one (if not more) war or act of terror. The names of the 35 fallen of Pagham from the two World Wars were read out and any who wished could lay a wreath or poppy. The words of the Kohima Epitaph concluded the Act of Remembrance, uttered by our organist, whose own father was one of those brave fallen of Pagham: ‘When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.’ Let us all continue to work and pray for peace.
Rev’d Mark Eminson
