Local Conservatives back Armed Forces Memorial

Local Conservatives have thrown their weight behind the campaign for an annual commemoration ceremony at the Armed Forces Monument at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. 

Pledging his support to it Andrew Griffiths, Parliamentary candidate said,  “Although we, quite rightly, focus the National day of Honour and Mourning for fallen of the two World Wars on the Cenotaph in Whitehall and thousands of memorials throughout Great Britain it is time to consider an additional ceremony running alongside and complementing the official one.” he expanded on his suggestion with this,  “There hasn’t been a year since the end of the Second World War when Servicemen and Women have not died or been seriously injured in the service of their country. Suez, Korea, Cyprus, Borneo, Malaya, the Falklands, the Gulf, the Balkans, Northern Ireland have taken place alongside the hundreds of small scale conflicts, insurgency and terrorism that are continuing at this very moment in Iraq and Afghanistan.” 

“I have visited the new memorial several times and I am always deeply moved by its simple, symbolic message. My suggestion is to launch the Poppy Day Appeal with a national ceremony at the Armed Forces Monument and to complete the remembrance at the national cenotaph ceremony in Whitehall.” 

He was supported in this by County Councillor Geoff Morrison who said, “This would help to raise awareness of our armed forces who continue to make sacrifices even in a time of relative peace and who still need our support.”