A special dedication service at Aylsham Parish Church has enabled the local division of the Royal British Legion to unveil two new Standards.
Each Royal British Legion branch has its own Standard, which conforms to a traditional blue and gold design featuring the Union Flag. The presentation and maintenance of this banner is of great importance to members, and a significant source of pride.
The Aylsham and District branch of the Royal British Legion not only debuted a new Branch Standard during the dedication ceremony, it also revealed a Norfolk County Youth Standard.
This comes shortly before the Festival of Remembrance that the nationwide Armed Forces charity hosts every year at the Royal Albert Hall, which will see the new flags proudly on display.
Held on a gloriously sunny day, the service was led by Revd Canon Julie Boyd, Rector for the Aylsham and District Team Ministry, and welcomed attendees including the High Sheriff of Norfolk and the Chairman of Norfolk County Council.
Paul ‘Smudge’ Smith, who serves as County Chairman of Royal British Legion Norfolk, was also among the congregation. He said:
“It’s quite a rare event as normally a service dedicating a new Standard would happen once every 20 years or so. This time it was even more significant as we were also dedicating a new County Youth Standard. We haven’t had one before and it is so important that we make the youth feel included.
“Lots of us veterans are getting old now, and its so vital that younger veterans and members of the forces are engaged. We want to ensure the building blocks of life are on a firm foundation for this next generation, many of whom are returning from places like Iraq and Afghanistan and will need support for many decades to come.
“The whole ceremony was brilliant. Julie, who led the service, spoke so inspirationally and it was fantastic to see the new youth standard being held by the marine cadet who won the County Youth Standard Bearer competition.”
Reflecting on the resonance of the dedication service, Revd Canon Julie noted:
“When a standard is dedicated the words that are said before God and his people include: ‘we do dedicate and set apart this Standard that it may be a sign of our duty towards our King and country in the sight of God and a symbol of the service The Royal British Legion is called upon to render’.
“The Standard is full of symbolism, a reminder of the Legion’s motto ‘Service not self’. As such, they are treated in a particular way to reflect the duty, faithfulness and loyalty that the members are called to live by. The beginning – the dedication – is important; the Standard is not allowed to touch the ground until it has been dedicated, it is carried into church tied up and then unfurled just before the dedication takes place. It is offered up for service in a way that mirrors how people offer their lives to God, to their Sovereign and to their country.
“It is a privilege to be asked to lead such a service for the Aylsham and District Branch and for the new Norfolk County Standard as well, I was very grateful for that privilege.”