Two civic events will take place in Stockport on Monday March 14th to celebrate Commonwealth Day and to mark the centenary of World War One.
At 9.55am the Commonwealth Flag Ceremony will take place at the top of the steps to Stockport Art Gallery on Wellington Road South before the flag is raised outside the Town Hall at 10.00am.
At 10.30 the single commemorative act marking the centenary of World War One will take place at the War Memorial.
The Commonwealth Flag Ceremony is an annual affirmation of support for the Commonwealth in conjunction with other local authorities in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries.
The intention of a single commemorative act reflects the involvement of so many representatives from around the Commonwealth who supported the country in the conflicts.
The extinguishing of candles symbolically represents the feeling of darkness that came over Europe 100 years ago.
In 2018 after the annual candle is extinguished there will be a brief period of darkness before the lighting of all four candles. This symbolic gesture will represent ultimately how light won through the darkness.