Coronavirus: Residents urged to celebrate Remembrance Sunday at home this year

Shropshire Council are encouraging people to commemorate this year’s Remembrance Sunday (8 November 2020) from their own doorstep, as a collective tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Residents are being asked not to attend events, and are instead being urged to pay their respects by taking part in the national two minutes’ silence in their homes or on their own doorsteps.

There are many alternatives to allow people to pay their respects this year. The Royal British Legion has established a Virtual Field of Remembrance on its website for people to participate in their own personal moment of remembrance.

People can also make a donation to the Poppy Appeal, or download the official A4 poster of the iconic Remembrance Poppy to display in their windows at home. Visit www.britishlegion.org.uk for more details.

The Royal British Legion logo

The national service of remembrance will also be broadcast on BBC1, Sky and ITV at 11am. The council are encouraging people across the country to participate in their own personal moment of remembrance whether that be watching the service on television or pausing for the Two-Minute Silence.

Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care, public health and climate change, said:

“We know we cannot let the pandemic prevent us from commemorating this year’s Remembrance Sunday, but we must also ensure that we are doing so in a way that prioritises safety.

“We can still all play a part to ensure we make the occasion appropriately and pay tribute to the servicemen and servicewomen who laid down their lives for our country.

“That’s why we’re encouraging people to look at the alternative ways to commemorate and take part in a collective act of remembrance, by observing the two minutes’ silence at 11am in their homes or on their doorsteps.”

Shropshire Council have been advising on how to ensure those hosting local remembrance events that they do so safely. Measures include reducing numbers, focusing attendance on those wishing to lay wreaths, and observing social distancing at all times.

All gatherings for Remembrance Sunday involving more than six people will need to be organised by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution, or a public body. Organisers will also be required to carry out a risk assessment to limit the risk of transmission of coronavirus.

Those who choose to attend a local remembrance event are strongly advised to follow the current Government guidelines and only meet one other person not in your household or bubble, and stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors). Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Further information 

We are now in a four-week national lockdown, so it is important that people follow the guidance to help stop the spread of the virus.

• You must not meet socially indoors or in private gardens with family or friends unless they are part of your household – meaning the people you live with – or support bubble.
• Individuals can meet one other person from another household outside in a public place.
• Children under school age, as well as those dependent on round-the-clock care who are with their parents, will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside.

You can also help to stop the spread by:

• Washing your hands
• Wearing face coverings when required
• Self-isolate if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.

Stay Home, stay safe, look after each other – and thank you for Stepping Up Shropshire.