MILITARY chiefs have criticised Remembrance Day events organised by Rangers. Top brass branded the half-time parade during a match against Peterhead in November as inappropriate. Fans watched Royal Marines abseil from the stadium roof and a howitzer was fired from the trackside to signal a minuteâs silence. But following complaints, Major General Nick Eeles, General Officer Commanding Scotland, met Navy and RAF chiefs and they agreed to ban a repeat. Instead, he has said just a minuteâs silence would be a more appropriate way to mark the contribution of those who served in the two world wars and other conflicts. In a letter to one person who complained, the Army secretariat wrote: âThe General Officer Commanding Scotland has now had the opportunity to review the events that took place at Ibrox Park with the other service heads in Scotland. "They share your view that the format of the half-time event and the conduct of those taking part in it was inappropriate for Remembrance weekend and will take steps to ensure that such events are conducted with appropriate solemnity in the future. âThey believe that the minuteâs silence before the match was the correct way to mark the occasion and Army commanders will be directed to restrict future Remembrance events to this type of activity in the future. âThe focus of Remembrance activities must be on the fallen, not on those who are serving in the Armed Forces today.â More than 400 members of the Army, Navy and RAF were invited to Ibrox as guests of honour. Veterans supported by Erskine Hospital were applauded by the 48,407 crowd. Rangers players wore special poppy strips during the match and fans displayed a poppy mosaic before kick-off. Servicemen were given footballs by subs from both sides and took part in a half-time kick-about. But in future, servicemen will only be allowed to participate in a minuteâs silence during Remembrance weekend. The Ibrox parade was organised by the Rangers Charity Foundation to raise cash for ex-servicemen and their families. The club have regularly honoured the Armed Forces on match days over the years. In 2009, they welcomed marines from 45 Commando on to the pitch at half-time against Hearts after the troops finished a tour of Afghanistan. Scots Guardsman Gary Jamieson, who lost both legs in Afghanistan, was guest of honour during a match in 2010. A spokeswoman for the Army said: âHalf-time events such as this one will no longer happen at Remembrance Day matches and we apologise if anyone was offended by what they felt was inappropriate behaviour. âThose from the Army who attended the match were invited as a thank you from the club as they wanted to show support for the job they do and raise money for Poppy Scotland.â A Rangers spokesman said the club have a close relationship with the services and will continue to mark Remembrance Day with proper respect. He said: âNo one from any of the Forces has been in contact with us other than to thank us for our support and help. âOur Remembrance event proved to be the single largest memorial event in Scotland last year."
I guess the complaints came from the flats next to Ibrox ... Soldiers peaking in to their bedrooms when on top of the stadium!
I think whoever complained should get a life as he is obviously more to be pitied than scorned however I do agree 100% with the important sentence within the story “The focus of Remembrance activities must be on the fallen, not on those who are serving in the Armed Forces today.” That is what remembrance is supposed to be about, not some tawdry, cut price Edinburgh Tattoo display by the military.
FOLLOWING an article in today's Sunday Mail the club has issued the following statement: Rangers have always had a close and respectful relationship with this countryâs services personnel and associated charities. That will continue. No one from any of the Forces has been in contact with us other than to thank us for our support and help. Indeed, it was pointed out that our Remembrance event proved to be the single largest memorial event in Scotland in the year in question. The Remembrance part of the afternoon was observed impeccably and carried precisely the correct degree of solemnity. This was, as should always be the case, entirely separate from anything that some might have deemed frivolous during half time an hour or so later. That was when service people about to be deployed abroad wanted to celebrate in normal football style. All activities on the day were arranged in full co-operation with the Royal Navy, RAF and Army. They have always been extremely appreciative of the clubâs efforts and acknowledge we are massive supporters of the countryâs serving men and women, as well as veterans.
