If you’re a student in Coventry, you may or may not know that today is Armistice Day and the 13th November will be Remembrance Day. This is a day traditionally kept for solemn contemplation of the great wars of the past and the families of those affected by wars both in times past and ongoing.
This year, Remembrance Day is even more poignant for the Coventry community because the following day, the 14th, will mark the 76th anniversary of the start of the Coventry Blitz. A night of horrific bombing leading to the destruction of much of the city, its cathedral and industry.
To commemorate this reflective occasion, Coventry has been partaking in a Peace Festival. If you follow the previous link you’ll find a letter from the Lord Mayor of Coventry, which speaks of the fact Coventry is known around the world as a “symbol of peace and reconciliation”. So as such a city, what Remembrance Day events can we all take part in that will make us think a bit more about the past, today, the future and each other?
Peace Festival Itinerary
For a full itinerary of the remaining Peace Festival events, please follow this link and scroll to the bottom of the page.
As there is so much to choose from, we’ve selected a few of the events you may be interested in:
Act of Remembrance
The University’s Chaplaincy Team, are teaming up with Coventry Cathedral, to hold an Act of Remembrance on Armistice Day (Friday 11th) in University Square. The event will take place from 10:50am to 11:10am and will include a two minute silence at 11:00am. Following the service, there will be an opportunity to scatter poppy petals at the Old Cathedral altar as a personal act of remembrance. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Remembrance Sunday Service and Parade
To take place on 13th November 2016 in Coventry’s War Memorial Park. It will run from 10:45 until 12:00 and is free to attend. Hundreds of people will join together to commemorate the past and contemplate our current conflicts.
CAIF Annual Peace Concert
CAIF (Coventry Association for International Friendship) is a free concert starting at 6pm in Square One in The Hub. It will feature performances by an array of international musicians, as well as dancers. Voluntary contributions will go to Coventry-based international charity Global Care.
Communal Grave Service
To take place at London Road Cemetery, this is a service where you can reflect upon the civilians who died on the 14th and 15th November 1940 during the Coventry Blitz. Many today have family who passed away at this time and it is an extremely important part of the past and present of Coventry city.
British Traces in Dresden, Past and Present
If you research the history between Coventry and the German city of Dresden, it is the lasting friendship and partnership between the two cities that demonstrates the reasons behind Coventry’s reputation for reconciliation. Dresden was attacked by the Allied forces during World War Two in a planned attempt to push Germany to surrender. Their civilian losses were huge compared to that of Coventry’s, and at the close of the war the two cities were twinned and have maintained a close bond ever since. Learn more about this part of history at this banner presentation which runs from 9am-5pm until the 14th November.
