Service fitting response to bombings

BRITAIN’S commemoration of the sacrifices made during World War II took on an extra poignancy yesterday in light of last week’s bomb attacks on London.

A week of events celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II culminated last night with the poignant image of a million poppies being dropped above London.

The sky turned red over Buckingham Palace as a 250,000-strong crowd and the royal family watched a Lancaster bomber scatter the flowers following a day of reminiscence, reflection and entertainment.

Queen Elizabeth paid tribute to those who lost their lives to save the world from tyranny when she addressed thousands of wartime heroes at a spectacular commemoration show that brought together stars of stage and screen.

"It does not surprise me that, during the present difficult days for London, people turn to the example set by that (wartime) generation of resilience, humour and sustained courage, often under conditions of great depravation," the Queen said.

"That example and those memories should be kept alive by the younger generation as they in turn strive to keep the peace in our troubled world.

"But there is another reason why we must never forget an act of remembrance is an act of honour to those who sacrificed all," she said.

Earlier, the Queen was joined at a service of commemoration by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, his wife Cherie and hundreds of war veterans at the event at Westminster Abbey in central London.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who gave the address, told the congregation that yesterday's service was a "fitting response" to the terrorists bombings on Thursday which claimed dozens of lives and injured many more.

"Today of all days, we need no reminder that the spirit of murder and humiliation is still abroad.

"As your majesty reminded us on Friday, there is a generation of people for whom the sight of a devastated, bombed London will bring back harsh memories; memories not only of physical damage but of the sense of obligation to go on resisting the venomous tyranny responsible for it."

Before the service began, the Queen laid a bouquet of flowers at a memorial in the forecourt of the Abbey to all innocents who have died in wars.

She was helped by Joss, nine, and Wanda Criswell, six, whose great grandmother served as a land girl and whose grandfather took part in the D Day landings of 1944.

Hundreds of war veterans and their partners, some wearing their medals and a few dressed in uniform, were in the congregation for the service.