Traditionally, the National Day of Commemoration takes place on the nearest Sunday to 11 July, the day in 1921 that a truce, which ended the Irish War of Independence, was signed. Not only has this year’s event fallen on the 11 July itself, it is also the centenary of the signing of the truce.
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Like last year, due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, it was a scaled back commemoration with Dr Bruce taking part in a Christian act of worship. The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces, Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, along with other guests attended the event, which took place in Collins Barracks. President Higgins led the commemoration and laid a wreath which was followed by a minute’s silence.
During the service, Dr Bruce read from the Gospel of John, “The words of Jesus, recorded by the Apostle John, here in the last of the four Gospels, are profound words of comfort and reassurance for all followers of Christ. Jesus tells us ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.’”
Dr Bruce continued, “Then, in answer to a question from Thomas, who wondered how they could follow Him if they didn’t know where he was going, Jesus told them, as he continues to tell all humanity today, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’
“It was a privilege to represent Presbyterians again in this significant act of remembrance in the life of Ireland. I am sure that as we remember Irishmen and Irishwomen who lost their lives in past wars, or on service with the United Nations, these words, which are found in John 14, have most certainly been spoken by many a military padre down the years to the wounded and those on the cusp of life or death,” he said.
The first National Day of Commemoration took place on 13 July 1986. As a minister of the Dublin congregations of Clontarf, Ormond Quay and Scots Presbyterian Churches, Dr Bruce took part in the event a few years later in 1990, reading the Lord’s Prayer in Irish. As Moderator, he also took part in last year’s commemoration, reading from Ephesians 2.
Photo: President Michael D. Higgins lays his wreath at this year's National Day of Commemoration (photo credit Department of the Taoiseach )
The 2018 General Assembly clarified the denomination’s position with regards to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's participation in multi-faith civic events. You can read the position of the Church here.