IT was a day to remember.
Yesterday, we paid tribute to the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and the borough came to a standstill for a minute of silence on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.
We remembered the thousands of good men who gave their lives to save our nation from two of the greatest threats it has ever faced in the First and Second World Wars.
We remembered Captain David Jones, who died in August 2003, aged 29, Flight Lieutenant Andrew Smith, aged 25, who died in January 2005, and Trooper Kristen Turton, who died in April 2007 – all of whom were fighting in Iraq. And we commemorated the lives of five soldiers taken while serving in Afghanistan – Lance Corporal Mathew Ford, who died in January 2007, Trooper Robert Pearson, 22, who died in April 2008, Cpl Graeme Stiff, who died in March 2009 aged 24, Sergeant Matthew Telford, who died in November 2009 aged 37 and Guardsman Jimmy Major, 18, who died in November 2009.
At the Grimsby Cenotaph, seven-year-old Harry Telford wore his daddy's medals to lay a wreath for the first time.
His mother, widow Kerry Telford, who was at London's Horse Guard's Parade yesterday, said: "This is a very hard time of year for us, particularly as it is so close to the anniversary of his death on November 3.
"Harry has always worn a poppy and comes to Remembrance Day parades with his family, but this year, he told me that he wanted to lay his own wreath."
Also paying tribute to the fallen was HMS Grimsby Lieutenant Commander Paul Ottewell and six of the ship's crew.
LCDR Ottewell said: "It is a time to remember the people of Grimsby who gave their lives in the service of their country.
"Those who serve today are often away for eight months of the year, doing a very important and difficult job and without events like today, communities can easily forget them."
Councillor Alex Baxter (Con, Scartho), of the Armed Forces Events Organising Committee, said: "People from the borough have died for their country and it is not just their friends and families but the whole community that has come out today to make sure that they get adequate recognition.
"This event is building year on year into a more professional and well-attended day which helps build a relationship between the Armed Forces and the local community."
