Humanist representatives are preparing to take part in all of the national Remembrance Day ceremonies across the UK this Sunday, including at the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Westminster, the Welsh National Service, the Northern Ireland Service, and the Scottish National Remembrance Service.
Humanists UK and its armed forces section, Defence Humanists, will be represented at the Cenotaph ceremony by Chief Executive Andrew Copson and at the Welsh National Service by Lorraine Barrett, a patron of Humanists UK, humanist celebrant, and former Welsh Assembly member, for the second time after being officially represented at these major events for the first time last year.
As in previous years, Humanists UK’s Northern Ireland section Northern Ireland Humanists is being represented at the ceremony in Belfast, while Humanist Society Scotland is taking part in the Scottish national ceremony in Edinburgh. As well as attending the UK’s national ceremonies, Humanists UK will also have representatives at many other ceremonies across the country.
Humanists UK campaigns for inclusive public ceremonies that are equally inclusive of everyone regardless of religion and belief. More than a quarter of serving members of the Armed Forces describe themselves as having ‘no religion’ and it is therefore important their contribution is recognised. For many years Humanists UK and Defence Humanists ran the campaign ‘For All Who Serve’ to highlight this issue.
Humanists UK Director of Community Services Teddy Prout said: ‘Remembrance Day enables us to honour those who have given tremendous sacrifices in serving their country in conflict and war.
‘We are proud to represent non-religious Armed Forces personnel at national and other Remembrance ceremonies across the UK to pay our respects to those whose lives have been lost or forever changed in war and conflict.
‘It is vital that we remember everyone who gave their lives in military service regardless of their religion or belief, and we will continue to advocate for all Remembrance services across the UK to be secular and fully inclusive occasions for all.’
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For more information, contact Humanists UK Public Affairs Manager Karen Wright karen@humanists.uk or call 0207 324 3009 for more information.
Read more about Humanists UK’s campaign work on Remembrance: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/secularism/government-and-faith-communities/remembrance-ceremonies/
Visit the For All Who Serve campaign’s website: http://forallwhoserve.org.uk/
Read more about Defence Humanists: http://defencehumanists.org.uk/
At Humanists UK, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our work brings non-religious people together to develop their own views, helping people be happier and more fulfilled in the one life we have. Through our ceremonies, education services, and community and campaigning work, we strive to create a fair and equal society for all.