Ubon Remembrance Ceremony 2019

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The group arrive at the Thung Sri Mueang park for the Ceremony.
Monday 11/11/2019. We travelled by minibus from the 'V' hotel to the Thung Sri Mueang park. By this time our numbers had grown. We'd been met at Suvarnabhumi Airport by Arthur Williams who was booked on the same flight, already esconsed at the 'V' hotel was Noel Jackson and Jim Curtis was awaiting us at the Thung Sri Mueang. On arrival we were ushered along a pathway to be checked off against a list of guests. Then we proceeded to our reserved places under a Marquee.
Jim Curtis joined us at this stage and as the pictures show there had been light rain. As we sat there awaiting the arrival of the Governor, there was a new twist to proceedings, we were entertained by a singer. I'm sure he sang at least two songs including the Celine Dion number 'My Heart Will Go On'. I have subsequently discovered that our singer is a Dr Peansak Wong. Doctor Wong works as a Pediatrician at the Sappasit Hospital here in Ubon. Whilst at university he won a singing competition and uses this talent to raise money for charity.
The group take their seats in the marquee.
The Governor of Ubon walks through an honour guard of Veterans.
The Thai organisations had been placing their wreaths before and during our arrival. The Commander of the Warin Chamrap Army base arrived and then the Governor. Mike Chapman was there to greet him and pin on his Poppy. He then walked through an honour guard of RTA veterans including some from the Korean war. As the dignitaries were being escorted to their positions, they were offered refreshments as indeed we all had been. Dr Peansak Wong continued to entertain with his second number, he would be singing again later.
Taking advantage of a lull in the proceedings, Mike Chapman approached us to enquire as to who would be escorting the OCA wreath. This year, Gill Allison and David Higgins did the job for us. Mike announced the attendance of Neil Campbell who was to play the lament 'Flowers of the Forest'. This gave Neil his cue to take up his position. Julian Strathearn ex Rhodesian SAS laid the Falangs of Ubon wreath first. Then it was the turn of Gill and David for the OCA. The final group to lay their wreath were the local American legion branch.
Neil Campbell plays 'Flowers of the Forest' as the wreaths are laid.
Gill Allison and David Higgins escort the OCA wreath to the Podium.
Certainly Gill and David followed their instructions to the letter and having Gill meant a less military feel to our presence. In Ubon there is an atmosphere of including all of the fallen from all countries. I have since been informed that Gill and David made a very good impression when after laying the wreath, they walked to bow in front of the Governor. It seems no other foreign escorts had the foresight to do that and it had been noted by the Thai dignitaries. So great job Gill and David, you did us proud.
After the wreaths were laid, Mike Chapman gave a speech explaining that today was one hundred years since the first Remembrance Ceremony was held in Buckingham Palace in November 1919 first known as Armistice day. He then gave an outline of what the service entailed including the Exhortation, the Last Post, the two minutes silence and the Rouse. This was repeated by an interpreter in Thai so everyone had an understanding of the events. The Last Post was then played and at precisely eleven o'clock, the two minutes silence was impeccably observed.
The last post Buglar with our Piper standing to attention for the two minutes silence.
The Governor lights the lantern of peace and Mike Chapman presents a bouquet.
AT 11:03 Mike Chapman read the Dedication. When you go home, tell them of us and say - " For your tomorrow, we gave our today". The penultimate act of the ceremony was when Mike invited the His Excellency the Governor of Ubon
Ratchathani, Poo Wah Changwat Sarit Witun, to light the lantern of peace. The final act was for Mike to present a bouquet of flowers to a member of Little Mother Ubon's family. We then all engaged in the annual scrum of picture taking. I will post pictures of this in the slideshow below.
The first Remembrance Ceremony in Ubon was in 2006. Jim Curtis was there, he's been to everyone so far even helping with the organisation when they were short handed. As a result he's a very popular person with the family of Little Mother Ubon. Jim has informed me that Little Mother Ubon attended the first few Ceremony's before passing away. The rollover shows Little Mother Ubon's daughter being presented with a token of appreciation in 2007 by the late 'Old' Tom Porter. Tom was the driving force behind the very first Ubon Remembrance Ceremony.
Jim Curtis with the family of Little Mother Ubon, the rollover shows Old Tom and LMU
Mark and dad Neville pose in front of the OCA wreath. Rollover shows Noel Jackson standing with an OCA group.
In what has become a tradition here, we gathered on the steps for a rendition of Auld Lang Syne. The picture is displayed below. Then it was the scrum of picture taking where people ask to have their picture taken with you. This can be individually or in groups. I'm using the rollover image left to highlight two characters in our group we've not seen much of thus far. The first is Mark Wareham who was about to depart for pastures new as he had to return home for work. The second is Noel Jackson who does his best to stay out of the limelight. (unsuccessfully in this case)
 
 
The final act of the ceremony. A rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

Slideshow

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