St James remembers its dead
This weekend sees the annual commemoration for fallen Volunteers from the St James' area of Belfast.
d this year the commemoration committee has emphasised the importance of youth in the continued struggle for national liberation. Young people from the district have been given the honour of making up the colour party for a commemorative march to be held on Sunday, 26 November.
The youth teams from a number of GAA clubs in the area as well as local soccer teams will take part, wearing their club colours.
The march, for the first time ever, will parade around the whole district, taking in La Salle and the Rock streets.
Former H Block hunger striker Raymond McCartney will be the main speaker at the event.
After the march, McCartney will make special presentations to the families of the area's fallen Volunteers in a ceremony to be held in O'Donnells GAA club on Rockmore Road.
The presentations are to be made on behalf of the ex-POWs group in the area.
On Friday 24 November a commemoration function will be held in the Felons Club. The main speaker on the night will be Pat Thompson from South Armagh, who served life in the Cages in Long Kesh.
Speaking to An Phoblacht, John Mallon chair of the commemoration committee, said that it was good to see the enthusiasm of the young people who are coming forward to help out. He went on the explain that the work going into organising this year's commemoration was also being used ``as the foundation stone for the work we intend carrying out next year to commemorate the anniversary of the H Block hunger strike. Bernard Fox and Pat Sheehan, who are both on the committee, were themselves H Block hunger strikers.
John Mallon concluded by calling on people ``to join the district's 1981 Committee to make it a success. There's always something to be done''.
Friday's function begins at 8pm in the Felons while on Sunday 26 the commemoration parade will leave Rockmore Road at 1pm sharp and parade to the plaque on St James' Road.
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