Rutherglen and Cambuslang pay tribute to fallen heroes

Nov 14 2012 by Kenny Smith, Rutherglen Reformer

RUTHERGLEN and Cambuslang came to a standstill on Sunday as the towns paid tribute to their fallen heroes.

Remembrance Day services were held at the Cenotaph inRutherglen and the war memorial inCambuslang as young and oldjoined together to remember the fallen.

There was a big local turnout at both events, with dignitaries and organisations laying wreaths at the two sites.

At 11am, the towns descended into silence for two minutes.

There were also ceremonies at the war memorial in Westburn Cemetery and the commemorative cairn onGilbertfield Road.

The cairn was erected onShepherds Lane to remember the fallen who walked down the path to Newton Station as they went off to war, never to return.

Youth groups including BB ­companies, Scouts and Girl Guides were in attendance to pay their respects to a generation who gave their all in the pursuit of freedom.

In Rutherglen, Rev Alan ­Raeburn took the service at the Old Parish Church before the party marched down the Main Street to theCenotaph.

MP Tom Greatex was in ­attendance, as were local councillors, with a number of organisations also taking part to lay wreaths.

The MP said: “I was honoured to attend the service and wreath ­laying in Rutherglen, as well as the ­commemoration at Shepherds Lane in Halfway. It was an honour to do so alongside local veterans.

“It was fitting that so many people from throughout the communityattended services this weekend to pay their respects and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice tosafeguard freedom here at home.

“Our thoughts, of course, do not just rest with those who still to this day live with the grief of a loved one who fell in the First and Second World Wars.

“Tragically, families still suffer with the loss of loved ones who died in more recent conflicts, and continue to serve in Afghanistan and elsewhere.”

At Cambuslang Park, a movingceremony was held with James Kelly MSP attending, with the area’s ­councillors, as well as Scouts, Guides, Boys and Girls Brigade, and ­Cambuslang Community Council.

Mr Kelly added: “I attended five services on Sunday, including four in the Cambuslang area, and was struck by the breadth of people who turned out.

“It is clear that in the local ­community, young and old alike are very aware of the sacrifice those in the Armed Forces have made in order to safeguard a future for all of us.”