We could learn from their sacrifice

Leading Cadet Paine was among four members of the town's Sea Cadet Corps who formed the guard around the war memorial at the annual service.

Next to the cenotaph, more than 50 poppies on wooden crosses were planted in memory of those who died serving their country.

At least two of them were barely older than Ld Cdt Paine. Harry Holden was 18 when he died on June 9, 1944, in Bayeux fighting in the Royal Green Jackets, while John Howey (19) died in the RAF on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

'Your memory will live forever' read the inscription on one of the crosses.

Ld Cdt Paine helped to ensure that continues to be the case. A sea cadet for just over three years, he said: "We all volunteered for this duty and the four of us were selected from the unit. I've done it before and I'd rather do it than the marching because it requires more effort on my part. I felt proud to stand there. It is good to give up my day for those people who have given up their lives."

Others from the TS Sir Alec Rose who joined Ld Cdt Paine were Cdt Edward Jones (13), Able Cdt Jonathan Murphy (15) and Cdt Laura Chambers (15). They were led by Petty Officer Paul Welling.

The sea cadets were among the many youth and adult organisations who made the annual service outside the town hall bigger than ever.

They included the Scouts, the Guides, St John Ambulance and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service cadets as well as the Royal British Legion, the RAF Association and the Royal Naval Association.

Several dozen poppy wreaths were laid as well over 1,000 people took time to remember on a windy day during the traditional two-minute silence at 11am.

The 45-minute service was led by Lt Peter Clark, of the town's Salvation Army Corps along with Fr Andrew Wadsworth, of St Wilfrid's Church, and Fr Tony Churchill, of Our Lady of Sorrows RC Church.

Fr Wadsworth told the large crowd they could learn a big lesson from the experiences of the servicemen and women in the first and second world wars.

The comradeship and friendship which they displayed in the armed forces should have a role in modern life. He said: "Comradeship and friendship is about a lifelong commitment. What we are remembering today is the commitment of all those who gave their lives for us in the 20th century and, most recently, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We would do well today to remember their self sacrifice and employ it in our daily lives."

This could be shown by joining voluntary organisations to enrich the life of the local community, he added.

Dignitaries at the service included the deputy lieutenant of West Sussex, Roger Turner, along with Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb, Bognor Regis town mayor Cllr Jennifer Gillibrand and Arun District Council's deputy chairman, Cllr Don Ayling.

Mr Turner said the act of remembering had to include those fighting pockets of evil around the world such as the serviceman killed in the past week as well as those who died in the world wars.

Mr Gibb said threats to global peace would never go away and neither would this country's resolve to stand up to terrorism.

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