WE will remember them, not only now but also in the future.
This was the message at a special Service of Remembrance held in Droitwich on Sunday to commemorate the start of the First World War in August 1914.
The Service was held before the schools broke up for the summer holidays, as organisers were keen that the event could feature local children to pass the message of remembrance on to a future generation.
The ceremony took place in front of a crowd in Victoria Square in the centre of town.
It began in a traditional way, as the poem, A Soldier Died Today, was read to out.
Reverend Rachel Wheeler, of Droitwich Methodist Church, spoke to the crowd of the need to pass on the memories to the children and for them to pass that onto those after them.
And this was then followed by Young cadets taking on the job of creating a drum alter, the first to have been created at the ceremony, before the Last Post was played and a two minute silence was observed.
Steve Moore, the chairman of the Droitwich branch of the Royal British Legion, said he too felt it was essential to pass the message onto the children.
He said: "We come together to remember those who made sacrifices during the First World War on the field or at home.
"In honouring them we promise to do everything in our power to remember them."
The service ended with the laying of wreaths and children placing more than 100 poppy crosses in memory of all the fallen.
Speaking after the service Revd Wheeler added: "We wanted to make the children very central, because it's really important that they continue to pass on this message and continue to honour those who fought for the country."
Mayor of Droitwich, councillor Bob Brookes, laid a wreath at the service wearing the World War One Service Medal and Victory Medal awarded to his father.
He said: "My father was 18 when the war began. I think it's very important that children today understand something of what went on, but you can never appreciate the horrors unless you were there.
"It has extra meaning to me because it effected my father's whole life."
The service continued later in the day at the Royal British Legion in the town where poems written by the children were on display.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here