Watch Sunderland fall silent as thousands line streets to honour fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice

Led by personnel from 3rd Battalion The Rifles, who’ve been granted the Freedom of the City, veterans and currently serving personnel paraded through the city, taking the applause of the crowds who lined the streets.

As 11am approached there was a moving rendition of the Last Post followed by gunfire from a military field gun and the sound of Big Ben to mark the start of two minutes of silence across the city.

Military personnel including Captain Annabel Smith and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Redon then read the emotive war poems ‘For the Fallen’, followed by ‘In Flanders Fields’.

Poppy wreaths were laid by the various dignitaries, followed by a passionate rendition of the national anthem.

Veterans and Armed Forces personnel then once again took the acclaim of the watching crowds as they marched through the city centre, saluting dignitaries including Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear Lt. Gen. Robin V Brims, CB, CBE, DSO, DL, the Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Ehthesham Haque, and Lt Col Thomas Redon.

One of the marching regiments remembering fallen comrades were veterans from the 3rd Light Infantry.

Regiment veteran George Sanderson, 66, and Ian Chismon, 66, both from Sunderland, saw active service in Northern Ireland and Cyprus.

George said: “We have both lost friends in Northern Ireland who were very close and we come here every year to remember them.

“It was wonderful to see the amount of people turn up in the city to pay their respects - it really fills you full of pride.

“It’s very emotional. When you hear the music it just evokes memories of our time in the regiment - the sounds, the people, the banter.

“Some of us do have a cry when we remember those we have lost.”

Ian added: “The people we have lost are our past and represented the North East. It’s vital we remember them.”

Also marching in the parade were the Royal Green Jackets.

Veteran John Cheetham, 73, is originally from Mansfield but moved to Sunderland after completing 25 years of service.

John, also known as Jake, said: “We are all here today as we’ve all lost people close to us, either in Northern Ireland or other conflicts we have been involved in and it’s vital we remember them.

“We should also remember the sacrifices being made every day by people currently serving in the Armed Forces.”

During the ceremony the city’s mayor, Councillor Ehthesham Haque, thanked the veterans for their service and vowed that Sunderland will never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Speaking to the Echo after the final parade march, Cllr Haque said: “Our remembrance service is the biggest outside of London, and for me being part of today’s events was one of the greatest honours of my life.

“These are men and women who have given their lives to protect our freedom and to let us live in the free democracy we have today.

“It’s extremely important we remember our veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice during WWII and WWII as well as those serving in more recent conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan.”