Over the past few weeks, Sight Scotland Veterans has supported veterans to attend Remembrance Day events all across Scotland, to lay wreaths at war memorials and ceremonies to honour the fallen.
Pictured is Jim Cantley, a veteran who has a visual impairment and is a regular at our Linburn Centre, who placed a wreath at the opening Ceremony of the Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance, at the Scott Monument.
Colleagues in our Hawkhead and Linburn Centres recognised Remembrance Day this year by holding services throughout the week for the veterans who attend the centres and their families.
At each event colleagues and veterans gave readings, shared poetry, reflected on friends who have passed away over the last year, and observed a minute of silence in recognition of those who have lost their lives during conflict.
Each Centre also held a wreath-laying ceremony so veterans could place poppies and crosses at the respective Tommy statues in the gardens.
In the lead-up to Remembrance Day, veterans at the Hawkhead Centre were hard at work in the workshop, creating more than 70 special crosses for Remembering the Fallen. These heartfelt tributes were laid as a symbol of respect and gratitude for those who gave everything for our freedom.
One of our World War II veterans, Ella Bell, aged 103, laid a wreath for Sight Scotland Veterans at the Dundee Remembrance Service on Sunday. Ella had been a bit anxious about being involved but in the end said that it had been lovely. Well done Ella and thank you for your service!
Ella was supported to do this by her daughter Elizabeth, two of her grandchildren and three of her great grandchildren, and fellow Sight Scotland Veterans.
Her daughter said that none of them realised just how many of the public were following the Remembrance Parade and that it was amazing and emotional.
Veteran Ross Swinton attended the Remembrance Day service at the Hollies, alongside other Sight Scotland Veterans and members of the Musselburgh and District Veterans Group. The day held deep personal significance for Ross, offering a meaningful opportunity to honour those who served and remember friends and comrades lost over the years.
Having served both in the UK and overseas with the Royal Scots, Ross spoke about how important it was to stand shoulder to shoulder once again with fellow veterans, to reflect, pay his respects, and reconnect with old friends he hadn’t seen for many years.
He also shared how support from Sight Scotland Veterans has helped him adapt to life with wet macular degeneration, describing it as “the best decision I’ve ever made about my health.”
You can also watch two of our moving videos below, where we speak to veterans supported by Sight Scotland Veterans who reflect on the meaning of Remembrance Day.
A group of 34 staff and veterans from Sight Scotland Veterans also marched in the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph Parade to honour those who gave their lives for our freedom.
Across Scotland and within our own community here at Sight Scotland Veterans, we were deeply proud to stand alongside veterans, and we hold in our thoughts all who have served - past and present - especially those living with sight loss as a result of their service.
A big thank you to our veterans for their dedication in making these acts of remembrance so meaningful. We are immensely proud of everyone representing the charity who took part in this special opportunity to pay tribute to the fallen.
Lest we forget.
