Hundreds of veterans and forces families gathered together for the annual Festival of Remembrance at De Montfort Hall.
The event returned to the venue after being held at Leicester Cathedral last year because of fears elderly veterans were unable to cope with steep stairs on the stage.
However, a special platform, with fewer steps, was built especially for the ceremony on Saturday.
More than 850 people attended the event to honour past and present servicemen and women. County chairman of the Royal British Legion Dave Atterbury said: "It's fantastic to be back at De Montfort Hall.
"We're so glad we were able to get staging to make it happen.
"The standard bearers are getting older – as we all are – and they're a little less steady on their feet, so we're very thankful to Up Stage who provided us with the safer tiered platform."
Falklands veteran Jeremy Downie, 50, had the honour of being a standard bearer.
The former Royal Navy leading weapons engineer said: "Events like this are important because they remember everyone who's served their country. It's about the first and second world wars and every other conflict.
"The money we raise goes to widows, serving soldiers and ex-armed forces – it helps them with every aspect of their lives."
During the evening the audience was entertained by the Band of the Royal Marines. Standard bearer for the Syston Royal British Legion Noel Bertram was proudly flying the colours for his 20th year.
The 65-year-old, from Loughborough, said: "The Royal Marines band was fantastic, they did a piece at the beginning about Nelson and Trafalgar which I thought was out of this world."
County poppy field co-ordinator Angie Downie said: "It's always an emotional time.
"However, the music cheered a few of us up and the entertainment on the whole was brilliant.
"The Festival of Remembrance is about remembering people for what they've done and what they're going through."
The Leicester and Rutland Royal British Legion has 36 branches in the county which recruit volunteers to collect cash on their behalf.
Last year, the Legion collected £500,000 which it was able to donate to veterans and their families.
Mr Atterbury said: "It's about remembering the servicemen who've fallen for their country.
"It's about all the wars, including Afghanistan, too.
"We help those coming out of Afghanistan with severe injuries and the families who have lost loved ones."
