Remembrance Sunday was marked in Tonga with a church service and the laying of wreaths at the Pangai Si'i Cenotaph at noon yesterday, November 11.

A brief history of Remembrance Sunday that was produced by the Tonga Defence Services specially for the occasion stated that, "the Remembrance Sunday in its current form is to commemorate the people's sacrifices in all wars, the sacrifices at the Front, the Home Front and both service members and civilian. It symbolises individual sacrifices for the country and national unity in times of tragedy."

The occasion was first marked, "on the 11th hour, the 11th day of the 11th month 1923" when HM Queen Salote Tupou III unveiled the Cenotaph at Pangai Si'i to commorate the services and sacrifices of her people during the First World War 1914-18.

Yesterday, the flags of the three foreign diplomatic missions in Tonga: the People's Republic of China, Australia and New Zealand, were hoisted along side the Tongan flag.

Wreaths were laid first by HM King George Tupou V, followed by the Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele, the Acting Minister of Defence, Hon. Tu'a Taumoepeau Tupou, the Acting New Zealand High Commissioner, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China HE Mr Hu Yeshun, the Australian High Commissioner, Dr Bruce Hunt, the Honorary Consuls of Germany, Sweden, and France, the commander of the TDS, veterans and ex-servicemen, Girl Guides, schools and others.