THE MAYOR of Weymouth will host the town's annual US Memorial Day ceremony on Weymouth Promenade to honour those who served and gave their lives in the Second World War.

The ceremony will take place at the Weymouth American War Memorial at 11am on Monday May 31 and the public are invited to attend the service whilst observing social distancing.

Each year many local veterans, association representatives and residents attend the ceremony to show their respect for the US personnel who served and died during World War II. It recognises the thousands of US personnel who left the ports at Weymouth for D-Day in 1944.

Members from the Weymouth Royal British Legion branch will be attending the ceremony and their standard bearer will be flying their flag.

Mayor of Weymouth councillor Colin Huckle will lead the service and lay a wreath on behalf of residents, followed by wreath laying by veteran associations and the general public.

Cllr Huckle said: “We are pleased and proud to be able to host this important memorial service on Weymouth seafront to recognise US Memorial Day.

“The town has a long and strong relationship with the US and allied forces. I look forward to representing the town and reinforcing the respect and strong relationship with our American compatriots."

While it will not be compulsory to wear face masks for the event, individuals may choose to do so.

Cllr Huckle added: “I ask all those attending to please respect others as we emerge carefully from the lockdown. I will be giving a special mention to our dearly missed local standard bearer Lynwood Newman, who gave huge support to the council on many civic occasions, including the annual service at the US Memorial.”

The service will be carried out by Rev Geoffrey Carey and a wreath will be laid by Mrs Newman on behalf of the United States and her recently departed husband, Lynwood.

Chair of the Royal British Legion Naomi Turner said: "We have had strong links with the American forces for a very long time.

"The American memorial in Weymouth has a perpetual light on it that is always lit to show that the two countries will always be allies."

Atop the memorial is an electric glass lantern with leaded lights. The lantern is never extinguished and acts as a constant beacon of remembrance.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day - an occasion to decorate the graves of the war dead - and was created in the aftermath of the American Civil War.

The Weymouth American Memorial on Weymouth Seafront, overlooking the beach was unveiled on December 3 1947 and rededicated in June 1999. Further renovation work was carried out in 2012 by local stonemasons.

The Royal British Legion has been named Dorset Echo's Charity of the year and we are appealing to our readers to donate to the RBL by visiting dorseteceho.co.uk/RBL or sending a cheque payable to Dorset Echo in an envelope clearly marked ‘RBL donation’ and mailing it to Dorset Echo, Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 9XD.