Over 800 joined from around the world to celebrate the significant contribution to HM Armed Forces to remember those from our community who have served and continue to serve.
The event took place at the closing of National Armed Forces Week. Under normal circumstances, AJEX support National Armed Forces Week with an annual commemoration service at the NMA in Staffordshire. For the second year running this was held online so people from home could still mark the contribution of those who served and still serve today. Wreaths were laid, and readings and prayers recited.
At the event, AJEX were delighted to recognise and reveal a new AJEX National Standard - the first one for over 40 years. In a ceremony led by AJEX National Chairman, Mike Bluestone and Rabbi Major Reuben Livingstone the new Standard was paraded by Brian Bloom, AJEX Vice President and 2Lt Dan Bartram Contingent Commander of the JFS Combined Cadet Force, assisted by AJEX Deputy National Chairman, S/Sgt Dan Fox.
On this historical moment, AJEX National Chairman, Mike Bluestone commented, “All of us at AJEX were delighted to unveil and inaugurate a new AJEX Standard, the first one for over forty years. By doing this we demonstrate once more our commitment as a veteran’s organisation but also ensuring that AJEX has a presence in Remembrance events for many years to come. We hope the wonderful colours of the beautiful new standard also represent the beginning of a new chapter for AJEX, one which symbolises our ongoing commitment and future”.
After the online ceremony and commemoration took place, AJEX invited viewers on a behind the scenes tour at the NMA. AJEX Historian and Education manager, Paula Kitching, showed notable memorials including The AJEX Memorial, the National Service Memorial, the Armed Forces Memorial, the Special Operations Executive memorial and the Falklands Memorial, taking viewers on a journey to understand the history of Jewish participation in the British Military.
If you missed the ceremony or tour, you can view them via the AJEX JMA You Tube channel. Also available is an expanded tour that shows many more of the monuments: www.youtube.com/ajexjma
