The freedoms to speak, think and disagree must never be taken for granted, a mayor told those gathered to remember lives lost in war.
Exmouth mayor Cllr Graham Deasy delivered the message at the town’s Remembrance Sunday ceremony on Sunday, November 8, as veterans, residents and community groups came together at the war memorial in The Strand.
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In his address, Cllr Deasy spoke of the names engraved on the granite cross, recalling those who served and fell in the First and Second World Wars and in later conflicts, including the Falklands, the Indonesian Confrontation and Afghanistan.
He said: “Each name represents a life once lived – a son, a brother, a father, a comrade – who gave everything for the freedoms we hold dear.”
Addressing veterans, he added: “And to our veterans, you know those freedoms are never free. The sacrifices made must never fade with time.”
He urged people to remember what those who died had stood for, including “our right to speak freely”, “our right to think independently” and “our right to disagree, respectfully and without fear”.
“To honour their lives, we must keep defending those values – in how we live, how we treat one another, and how we pass those lessons on to the next generation,” he said.
The mayor also acknowledged the lasting effect of war on those who survived.
He said: “Each of you carries your own memories – some too heavy to share – and we know that remembrance isn’t just about the past. It’s about keeping faith with those who stood beside you, and those who never came home.”
Cllr Deasy said many of those who had died lay in foreign fields, beneath the waves or in the wrecks of lost aircraft, adding: “Yet none shall be forgotten.”
The ceremony included the laying of wreaths, with the mayor describing the occasion as one of both “grief and gratitude”.
Exmouth Town Concert Band led the Remembrance Parade. Its trumpet player, Ian, performed the Last Post and Reveille.
In a message following the event, the band said: “We were honoured, as always to lead the Remembrance Parade in Exmouth this morning.”
“We were so proud to play our part in helping the community come together to remember and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
The band also paid tribute to Ian for his performance.
Members of NCI Exmouth were among those taking part in the Remembrance March and ceremony at The Strand.
The coastwatch group said: “Alongside our local community, we paused to remember and pay tribute to all those who have served, sacrificed and given their lives in the service of our country.”
Concluding his address, Cllr Deasy said: “We stand together – veterans, families, friends and community – united in remembrance, pride, and respect.”
“Lest we forget.”
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