World war veterans remembered at civic ceremony

The St Catherine Joint Civic Affairs Committee today honoured veterans of the two world wars in a Remembrance Day ceremony held at the cenotaph in Spanish Town.

Highlight of the ceremony was the laying of wreaths in honour of those who lost their lives during the wars. Ninety two-year-old Ruben O'Conner, the oldest veteran in the parish, laid a wreath in honour of his fallen comrades.

O'Conner told the Gleaner that his job along with others soldiers was to the guard the island home. “I did not see any form of combat I was recruited to guard Jamaica, it was a testing time because we didn't know if we would have to fight,” he recalled.

“Anyway with the training we got from the British we were ready to defend Jamaica,” he continued.

O'Conner said that what he is worried about is the violence in Jamaica which he thinks can be stopped.

“What I think is that the ones who are carrying out the violence are following one another, if Spanish Town start shooting then Montego Bay follow, I really think the authority can clamp down on them,” he suggested.

The ceremony was also highlighted by a bugler who sounded the last post and the honour guard mounted by the Jamaica Defence Force, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Fire Brigade and correctional officers along with scouts, cadets and girls guides who performed the march past.

Custos of St Catherine Jeffrey McKenzie and Spanish Town Mayor Norman Scott, along with officers of the uniformed groups, observed the march past.