On Saturday, June 22, at 3:00 PM, a unique service will take place at the Anglican Church of St. Paul’s in Monte Carlo. During this ceremony, the old Nice-Monaco Standard of the Royal British Legion will be formally Laid Up, a new one dedicated and consecrated, and the Standard Bearer entrusted with its safekeeping.
This event marks a historic moment, as such a service has not occurred since the branch was formed in 1929, when it first took on the responsibility for the Exhortation and the annual Act of Remembrance.
Rev. Hugh Bearn of St. Paul’s highlighted the profound importance of remembering the service and sacrifice of so many. He expressed his personal commitment, stating, “My passion and dedication stem from my own family's continuous service since 1878, with eight members having made the ultimate sacrifice in the two World Wars that devastated humanity.”
Rev. Bearn also noted a significant increase in the membership of the Monaco Branch in recent months, particularly among younger individuals. These new members, while not necessarily having served in the military, possess a deep understanding of the duty and obligation associated with the Act of Remembrance.