The directors of Glentoran and Ballymena United today participated in a pre match Act of Remembrance at the Thomas Pearson M.M. memorial at the Oval to remember the fallen and to commemorate tomorrow's 100th Anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War One.
The service was conducted by the chaplain of Glentoran Football Club Rev. David Thompson with music of a lone piper of the Royal Irish Regiment.
Major Bert Smith (Irish Guards) spoke on behalf of HM Forces before the Chairmen of Glentoran and Ballymena United laid wreaths at the memorial. Stephen Beattie of Raven GSC, laid a wreath on behalf of the Glentoran Community Trust and a wreath was laid by soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment, based locally in east Belfast at Clonaver Barracks on behalf of the Armed Forces.
The Directors of Glentoran FC would like to sincerely thank all those who participated in the service and to the many supporters of both clubs who attended to pay their respects.
Before the match, the players of both clubs, the match officials and supporters observed a minuiutes silence. We thank the Union Jack Shop, Newtownards Road for kindly donating a specially commissioned Glentoran flag of remembrance, Club photographer Thomas Sewell for the photographs accompanying this story, and David Kerr of Glens TV and Digivibe Media for the video recording of the ceremony.
“And when you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today.”