Hatfield Town Council held an intimate D-Day memorial ceremony in the morning of Thursday 6th June, at Memorial Garden. The short, moving event was led by Father Darren Collins of St Etheldreda’s and St Luke’s, Hatfield, who spoke of the bravery of the men and women in the armed forces, who laid down their lives in the name of freedom on that fateful day in 1944. Fr Collins highlighted the need to give thanks for the times of peace that much of Europe has seen since the Second World War and in doing so, led the congregation to affirm that We Will Remember Them.
With members of the Royal British Legion, Hatfield Fire Service, Bishops Hatfield Girls School, Howe Dell Primary School, newly appointed High Sheriff, Annie Brewster, and councillors from across the political spectrum all in attendance, Mayor of Hatfield, Councillor Shirley Asare, addressed the assembly with a reading of the poem We Can’t Imagine, by Teresa Harrison-Best.
Following two minutes of silence for contemplation and reflection, Fr Collins continued with the declaration: when you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today, before finishing with a closing prayer.
Attendees
Hatfield Town Council Councillors
- Town Mayor, Cllr Asare
- Gareth Aicken
- Larry Crofton
- Nike Fakoya
- Sandreni Bonfante
- Tim Rowse
- Peter Costello
- Cathy Watson
Hertfordshire County Council Councillors
- Peter Hebden
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
- Keiran Thorpe
- Adrienne Nix
- Helena Goldwater
- Jane Otumunyne
- Father Darren Collins
- Hatfield Fire Brigade, Herts Fire and Rescue Service
- Flt Lt Jacob Morewood, RAF
- Lord and Lady Salisbury
- Annie Brewster, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire
- Bishops Hatfield Girl School
- Howe Dell Primary School
- Barbara Poole-Taberner (Royal British Legion Welfare Service)
- Jonah Anthony, Hatfield Town Clerk
D-Day Event Gallery
