ONE hundred years ago, thousands of men laid down their arms as peace reigned across Europe and the Middle East for the first time in four years.
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Orange’s Remembrance Day commemorations on Sunday are set to reflect the jubilation of World War I’s end, while remembering the 250 soldiers from Orange who never returned home.
The day will start at 9.30am with the armistice celebration re-enactment at the former town hall, now the OCTEC building on the corner of Anson and Byng streets, where the scene of the historic photograph will be relived.
Holy Trinity Church’s Orange Pealers will then spring into action, ringing 100 sombre tolls on their heaviest bell from 10.30am as people begin their walk from the re-enactment to Robertson Park.
Tower captain Joy Fabry said given the bell tower was built as a war memorial to those lost during WWI, something special was called for.
“Consequently, we have been busy over recent months organising hundreds of knitted poppies to be hung from the tower during the month of November,” she said.
“Many have keenly supported us, some of whom had family members who served in the war.
“As a result, over 1182 poppies now hang from high on the its east wall tied to bell ropes, and will be floodlit at night.”
- READ ALSO: 2000 poppies knitted for Anzac centenary
The City of Orange RSL sub-branch will host the Remembrance Day ceremony from 10.53am to time the minute’s silence for 11am.
Vice-president Chris Colvin said the occasion was in some ways more significant than Anzac Day.
“It was the end of the war and it took a generation of young men out of the country,” he said.
Orange High School band will play during the service, with Bella Sattler singing, and fellow Orange High School students will deliver the address and read poems.
At 11.30am, the pealers will ring the bells for half an hour to reflect the bells ringing across the world following the ceasefire after four years of silence.
Sunday schedule
- 9am – Anson Street block closes until noon.
- 9.30am – crowds to gather for Armistice re-enactment.
- 10am – re-enactment begins.
- 10.30am – crowd walks down Byng Street to Robertson Park.
- 10.53am – Remembrance Day ceremony begins at the cenotaph.
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