Eoin666
10-12-2007, 07:53 AM
Queen unveils new forces memorial
The memorial was designed by architect Liam O'Connor.
The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales are attending the dedication of the new national Armed Forces Memorial.
The £6m stone circle in Alrewas, Staffordshire, bears the names of 16,000 service personnel who have died since World War II.
The memorial honours those killed in combat and training as well as in acts of terrorism. The royal party have been joined by politicians including PM Gordon Brown.
There is room for 15,000 more names to be carved on the Portland stone walls of the memorial, at the National Memorial Arboretum.
The magnificence of this new memorial will, at long last, provide a fitting recognition for all those killed on duty since the end of the Second World War
The royal party, which includes the Duchess of Cornwall, were beginning by hearing prayers for the dead by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
They are touring the memorial, designed by architect Liam O'Connor, and meeting the families of service personnel.
Prince Charles said the people of the UK owed those whose names featured on the memorial "an enormous debt of gratitude".
He said: "The magnificence of this new memorial will, at long last, provide a fitting recognition for all those killed on duty since the end of the Second World War.
"It does not differentiate between those killed in the heat of battle or on a training exercise, by terrorist action or on peace-keeping missions."
The most senior officer in the military said the memorial would serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices being made.
We are now in the position in this country of having a memorial which will bring home to many the total scale of the sacrifices and commitment
Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup
Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was a chance for the British public to reconnect with the military.
"I think there is no doubt that the British public is extremely proud of its armed forces," Sir Jock said.
"It is equally important that the public understand and support the armed forces, not just in themselves, but in what they do."
Sir Jock said with post-war military deaths more likely to come in "ones, twos and fours", it had become harder for the public to collectively appreciate those losses.
"I am delighted that we are now in the position in this country of having a memorial which will bring home to many the total scale of the sacrifices and commitment that people in the armed forces have made," he said.
The memorial will open to visitors on 29 October
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7040801.stm
space for 15000 more names.......sobering thought
The memorial was designed by architect Liam O'Connor.
The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales are attending the dedication of the new national Armed Forces Memorial.
The £6m stone circle in Alrewas, Staffordshire, bears the names of 16,000 service personnel who have died since World War II.
The memorial honours those killed in combat and training as well as in acts of terrorism. The royal party have been joined by politicians including PM Gordon Brown.
There is room for 15,000 more names to be carved on the Portland stone walls of the memorial, at the National Memorial Arboretum.
The magnificence of this new memorial will, at long last, provide a fitting recognition for all those killed on duty since the end of the Second World War
The royal party, which includes the Duchess of Cornwall, were beginning by hearing prayers for the dead by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
They are touring the memorial, designed by architect Liam O'Connor, and meeting the families of service personnel.
Prince Charles said the people of the UK owed those whose names featured on the memorial "an enormous debt of gratitude".
He said: "The magnificence of this new memorial will, at long last, provide a fitting recognition for all those killed on duty since the end of the Second World War.
"It does not differentiate between those killed in the heat of battle or on a training exercise, by terrorist action or on peace-keeping missions."
The most senior officer in the military said the memorial would serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices being made.
We are now in the position in this country of having a memorial which will bring home to many the total scale of the sacrifices and commitment
Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup
Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was a chance for the British public to reconnect with the military.
"I think there is no doubt that the British public is extremely proud of its armed forces," Sir Jock said.
"It is equally important that the public understand and support the armed forces, not just in themselves, but in what they do."
Sir Jock said with post-war military deaths more likely to come in "ones, twos and fours", it had become harder for the public to collectively appreciate those losses.
"I am delighted that we are now in the position in this country of having a memorial which will bring home to many the total scale of the sacrifices and commitment that people in the armed forces have made," he said.
The memorial will open to visitors on 29 October
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7040801.stm
space for 15000 more names.......sobering thought