Britain Remembers World War Ii Heroes With Pageantry

With prayer and royal pageantry Britain paid tribute Sunday to the soldiers who fought and died fighting the Japanese before World War II ended 50 years ago.

Church bells tolled at noon as Britons gathered at services around the country and prayed for a more peaceful world. Whitehaired veterans, their chests bedecked with medals, marched in memory of fallen comrades.

In an evening ceremony on Horseguards Parade, Queen Elizabeth II culminated the weekend of remembrance by thanking all those who “had fought for, and saved, the free world.”

“We pay tribute to those who survived and remember with sorrow, but with gratitude, those who did not. Together, they gave us the chance to build a world anew,” she said during the ceremony featuring military bands, a 300-member choir and a symphony orchestra.

The queen walked to the stage through a line formed by 700 schoolchildren carrying candles. After she spoke, the children marched to the front of Buckingham Palace as patriotic music played and the queen and Prince Philip waved to the crowd that stretched for blocks.

On Aug. 15, 1945, Japan’s emperor agreed to an unconditional surrender. The British celebration of the 50th anniversary took place over the weekend so more people could take part.