A TIME TO REMEMBER
Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Boyce, a former chief of the defence staff, is to be the reviewing officer at the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen & Women's (AJEX) Annual Ceremony of Remembrance and Parade to be held at the Cenotaph in London on Sunday 16 November 2014.
Lord Boyce commanded threesubmarinesand then afrigatebefore achieving higher command in the Navy and serving asFirst Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Stafffrom 1998 to 2001 and then asChief of the Defence Stafffrom 2001 to 2003. In early 2003 he advised the British Government on the deployment of troops for theinvasion of Iraq, seeking assurances as to the legitimacy of the deployment before it was allowed to proceed.
The parade has seen a steady increase in the once declining numbers over the past two years with children, grandchildren and youth groups joining the AJEX veterans and serving Jewish Armed Forces personnel and uniformed police officers.
The Ceremony and Parade, which will be accompanied by the Band of the Grenadier Guards, takes place a week after the National Remembrance Day service in London and locally throughout the UK.
AJEX national chairman, Jeffrey Fox, said: "It is important that we take the opportunity to fly the flag at all our local parades and I am delighted that we have again been be allocated a place for an AJEX contingent at the National Parade in Whitehall.
"This year, with the visible increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the UK, it is equally important that as many people as possible attend our own ceremony at the Cenotaph on 16 November. We must show the nation that Jews have always served their country and still do, in all three services and in all roles, theatres of operations and in all ranks."
AJEX veterans and supporters will be traveling from all over the UK, the USA, Israel and Gibraltar and transport is being arranged from various UK locations. Further information on travel is available from AJEX Head Office on 0207 202 2323.
The Parade will assemble on Horse Guards Parade at
1-45pm and will march off at 2-00pm.
Jeffrey Fox, who will accompany Lord Boyce with AJEX President, Hon Rear Admiral, Lord Sterling, concluded: "This is an important time of the year for us. We must never forget those who served, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice and we must ensure that the AJEX Ceremony continues well into the future."
Special Shabbat Remembrance services will also be held at most UK synagogues on either the 8thor 15thNovember, subject to local arrangements.
Ends
For further information contact Colonel Martin Newman on 07717 717981 or 0161 766 6479.
Notes for editor: Press and camera facilities are available but please advise of your attendance and requirements in advance for security purposes.