2 minute read
Memoria celebration
At Memoria North Oxfordshire on May 14th the Military wives’ choir performed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falkland’s conflict where 255 British servicemen lost their lives.
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A wreath of poppies symbolic of this was poignantly carried in as heads were bowed and placed on the catafalque.
His Grace Rt. Revd. Gavin Collins Bishop of Dorchester, superbly aided by Rev (Sqn Ldr) Philip Craven oversaw an emotional evening as the wreath was taken through a guard of honour which included WO1 Sam Martin, Capt Steve McLaughlin and Sqn Ldr Sue Williams, as standard bearers flanked the rear of the chapel.
As the lights were lowered there was a very moving video tribute from the period and the names of those lost were seen on a scroll, which was followed by a period of reflection.
As the choir sang, we are sailing, a bagpiper led a soldier out carrying the wreath which was laid by the fallen solider against the silhouette of the evening sunset.
The procession ended as a lone bugler played the last post, flags were lowered, and the congregation remembered. The event was repeated at Memoria Barnby Moor in North Nottinghamshire on 21st May, which was the exact date in 1982 when our troops landed in San Carlos Bay. Here over 120 people attended and an avenue of remembrance which had 255 individual poppy crosses was created for the wreath to be carried down before again, being laid to rest in the sunset.
RAFA, the RAF, Defence Academy and Royal British Legion branches in Oxfordshire, Retford and Worksop all combined to ensure two very moving and reflective evenings were staged to ensure that the families affected by the war in 1982 were not forgotten.
Memoria’s Community Engagement Director Frank Meilack said “I was eighteen at the time of this conflict and I know families around me at the time who lost son’s and brothers, the areas where our beautiful memorial parks are based are also very close to the regiments and military bases that were directly affected”. Whilst our memorials parks are in the main for funerals it is part of the community infrastructure, and I am eternally grateful for all of the veterans that combined with us at Memoria to produce two incredibly memorable evenings”.
The procession of dignitaries.
Military dignitaries. The Military Wives Choir perform during the commemoration service.
A plaque was unveiled to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War
