As widow Lillian Levon laid a wreath next to the memorial honouring her late husband a stream of tears fell down her cheeks.

The 93-year-old said she missed her husband of 20-years, Joseph Levon, who bravely fought for this country in both world wars.

She said: “When I went up there I just felt like crying my eyes out of my head. I am happy and sad, just because my husband wasn’t with me today.

“I do miss him. If he was here he would have cracked some jokes. He would have told me to stop crying and lovingly said ‘do you want to fight?’”

Mr Levon served in the Bermuda Militia Infantry (BMI) for many years and Mrs Levon routinely followed the band from her home in Bailey’s Bay to Warwick Camp when on its regular route marches. She attended the War Memorial dedication Ceremony yesterday outside the Cabinet Office in honour of both her husband and stepson, veteran Eric.

Dollene Ray was also at the ceremony in remembrance of her father George Burchall, who served as sergeant and gunner in the First World War. Ms Ray proudly held up two of her father’s medals, and admitted while she hadn’t yet learnt what they meant, the original ribbons were still intact.

“It was great when I first looked at the War Memorial a while ago, I can’t explain what I felt, I wasn’t sad, I was just overwhelmed to see it. It was like icing on the cake to see it again today.

“I am glad I was alive long enough to see this. I just feel overwhelmed and I am thankful to the Government and (Works) Minister Derrick Burgess for doing this for me and for Bermuda.

“I have great grandchildren that now can see and run their fingers along the memorial and touch the (imprint) of my dad’s name,” she said.

Ms Ray called herself the historian of her family and said she kept track of all her relatives’ stories. She said she even remembers some of her father’s war tales about being in the trenches.

“I remember he was very loud. I kind of put it it down to the fact that being in the trenches they had to listen to the shooting off of guns and whatever else noise.

“And there were times when they were quiet because they did not want the Germans to know where they were. My father served in Belgium. Sometimes they were in the trenches for so long they could put their hands down their (uniforms) and take out a handful of fleas. I am so proud of him today,” she added.

These women joined many others, including Premier Paula Cox and Governor Sir Richard Gozney, who came out yesterday to pay their respects to nearly 3,000 men and women who served in First World War and the Second World War.