Jamaica Legion to honour those who served in wars

On Sunday, November 14 the Jamaica Legion will pay homage to the over 500 ex-servicemen and women who participated in World Wars One and Two as well as ex-Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) members.
Chairman of the Major General Harty Branch of the Jamaica Legion, Captain Clifton Lumsden is urging Jamaicans to come out in their numbers on Sunday at National Heroes Circle and honour those who served.
“This event is open to the public and I am urging the public to turn out and just remember these ex-servicemen and women who laid down their lives, so that we can be here today enjoying certain liberties,” Captain Lumsden stated.
Captain Lumsden said that part of the day’s activities will include the ex-servicemen and women who are over 70 years forming a short guard of honour. Another activity will be the laying of wreaths at the cenotaph in remembrance of the fallen men and women.
Remembrance Day is officially observed on November 11 at 11:00 a.m. each year in Jamaica and around the world. However, the celebration started in Jamaica at the launch of a poppy appeal on the first Sunday in October of each year by the Governor-General, who is President of the local legion.
This poppy appeal is used to solicit funds to take care of ex-servicemen and women who live at Curphey Home in South Manchester as well as those who live else- where, but need assistance.
The Jamaica Legion, which was established in October of 1949, is an affiliate of the British Commonwealth Ex-Service League. The Legion was formed out of concern at the large number of ex-servicemen and women of the First World War and the West India Regiment that were unemployable by virtue of several factors. The aims and objectives of the legion are to foster a spirit of comradeship between all ex-servicemen and women and to help those who in their later days have fallen on hard times and need assistance.