Remembrance Day COVID-19 changes

Due to the First Minister for Wales’s announcement of a ‘firebreak’ for Wales from Friday 23 October, this year’s Remembrance Day will look very different to previous years, with no parades and no gatherings at war memorials. This year we will be paying our respects in a slightly different way on Sunday 8^th November 2020.

His Worship the Mayor Cllr Howard Barrett, Leader Kevin O’Neill, Cabinet and Ward Members will be laying a wreath where there is a war memorial within their Ward, on behalf of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. Those wards are: Aberfan, Pant, Dowlais, Thomastown Park, Bedlinog, Cefn Coed, the Town Centre, Treharris, Trelewis and Troedyrhiw.

Any locked war memorials will be open from 6^th to 11^th November for people to lay their personal wreaths.

However, we are urging our residents to act responsibly, only attend war memorials if laying a wreath in remembrance of a loved one and observe Government guidelines and keep the two-metre distance rule.

Council Leader Cllr Kevin O’Neill said: “Even though the event can go ahead, we encourage you to think whether it is truly necessary and sensible to attend. The purpose of this short lockdown is to create a concerted national effort to do everything we can to stop the spread of COVID-19 - and every individual’s contribution to that counts. As always, we wish to mark the occasion of Remembrance Sunday and to acknowledge those that lost their lives and remember the sacrifices made for us during the wars. Please stay home, keep yourselves safe.”

A Royal British Legion spokesperson said: "Despite the changes this year, we are encouraging people across the nations to ensure Remembrance Sunday is still marked appropriately by taking part in remote and socially distanced Remembrance activity, whether that be watching the service on television or pausing for the two-minute silence."