Queen leads British veterans ceremony

LONDON – Queen Elizabeth II honored fallen soldiers from Britain and the Commonwealth on Sunday in a dignified ceremony at the heart of central London.

The 88-year-old monarch placed a poppy-laden wreath at the foot of the Cenotaph, built after World War I to remember those who lost their lives.

Large crowds thronged the surrounding streets on a cold, clear day in the capital.

The annual ceremony remains a national focal point, much as it was when Elizabeth was a young princess. There is the mournful symphonic music, the march of around 10,000 veterans, and the sense that Britain and much of the Commonwealth has come to a halt to recognize those who have lost their lives in battle.

Prime Minister David Cameron called this year’s event particularly poignant because 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. He also cited the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings and the conclusion of Britain’s military operations in Afghanistan.

The pageantry harkens back to the days of the British Empire, even as contemporary losses of British personnel in Afghanistan are sadly noted.