MEMBERS of the Garnant branch of the Royal British Legion have been invited to join thousands marching in Belgium to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.
The event will take place between August 5 and August 9, and will be one of the largest in the charity's history.
Known as the Great Pilgrimage 90 (GP90), it will mark 90 years since the original Great Pilgrimage in 1928, which saw 11,000 veterans and war widows visit the battlefields of the Somme and Ypres a decade after the conflict.
It culminated in a march through Ypres to the Menin Gate in remembrance of those who never returned.
Garnant branch members Kevin Madge and Norman Raeburn will represent the group and the community at the event, as standard bearer and wreath layer respectively.
Kevin and Norman will tour some of the battlefields and cemeteries visited by those on the Great Pilgrimage, before marching along the original route through Ypres, to the Menin Gate on the August 8, bearing their branch standard.
They will join more than 2,200 other Legion members and dignitaries, including Civic and military guests from the UK, Commonwealth and Northern Europe who are taking part.
Once at the Menin Gate, Mr Raeburn will lay a wreath on behalf of the Cwmaman community.
Mr Nevin Anthony, President of the Garnant Branch of The Royal British Legion, said: “Great Pilgrimage 90 is a unique opportunity for the Armed Forces community to come together and bear our standards along the same route in Ypres taken 90 years earlier by the veterans and widows of the First World War.
"The Garnant Branch looks forward to proudly representing Cwmaman at the event.”
As local champions of Remembrance, the branch is looking to work in partnership with schools and cadet groups to bring their unique Remembrance messages to the Menin Gate where they will be collected and displayed in the Commonwealth War Grave Commission grounds for viewing by the general public.
If you want to find out more about GP90, please visit britishlegion.org.uk or contact Councillor Kevin Madge, Branch Chairman, on 01269 825438
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