Moray congregation is urged to take up battle on the home front
Forres minister takes inspiration from armed forces in fight against modern vices
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A Moray minister yesterday urged his remembrance service congregation to battle as bravely as fallen soldiers and those fighting terrorism.
Rev David Wright told the gathering at St Leonard’s Church of Scotland, in Forres, to uphold Christian values to help the vulnerable and stand against the vices of the modern world.
“Can those who are fighting bravely know that we are fighting as bravely at home against all that’s wrong,” he asked.
“Within each and every one of us, there is a hope for a better world.”
The Remembrance Day service was one of many held throughout Moray.
Alves and Burghead minister Duncan Shaw led a service at Kinloss and Burghead. Other services were held at Elgin, Lossiemouth, Buckie and Keith.
At Forres, the public and community leaders gathered with Guides, Brownies, Scouts, and representatives from RAF Kinloss and the Air Training Corps to honour the dead.
Wing Commander Pete Williamson, of RAF Kinloss — who lost 12 men in the 2006 Nimrod air crash in Afghanistan — said the service was a chance to pay tribute and reflect on the sacrifices that had been made.
Retired former RAF serviceman Andy Hutchinson, of Forbes Hill, Forres, said the deaths in Afghanistan saddened him.
He said: “We were over there in the 18th and the 19th century and could not beat them then. I don’t think we will beat them now, but what’s the alternative? We have got to stay.
“The government tells us that if we don’t stay, Taliban and al Qaida will continue to train the people interested in terrorism – and then we’ll be fighting them on our own streets instead of over there.”
Uniformed organisations joined former servicemen at wreath-laying ceremonies throughout Banff and Buchan.
Traffic was brought to a standstill in South Road, Peterhead, at 10am as veterans, families and pipers gathered at the town’s war memorial.
At Fraserburgh, a service of remembrance was held at the Old Parish Church prior to a procession to the war memorial in Strichen Road.
A short service was held at the Castle Street war memorial in Banff, before the 1st Banff Boys’ Brigade band led a procession to Banff Parish Church.
At Macduff, a service at the parish church followed a gathering at the war memorial. There were separate services at the church at King Edward and the former RAF air station at Boyndie, near Banff.
There were also services at Savoch Church at Auchnagatt, Maud Church, Fordyce Parish Church at Portsoy, New Deer Parish Church and St Fergus Parish Church.
Those who made the ultimate sacrifice were also remembered at Cruden Parish Church, Crimond Parish Church, New Pitsligo Parish Church and Trinity Church, Whitehills.
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