VIDEO: Veterans call for war memorial
Thursday, 5pm - VETERANS who served a combined 75 years in the armed forces are calling for a permanent memorial to those who died serving their country since World War II.
Thursday, 5pm - VETERANS who served a combined 75 years in the armed forces are calling for a permanent memorial to those who died serving their country since World War II. Malay and Borneo veteran George Reeve of Portsmouth Close, Grantham, is leading the call for the memorial which he hopes will take pride of place in St. Peter's Hill.
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George, 71, said: "This has been something I have thought about for quite a long time. I have raised it at all the associations to which I belong, including the British Legion, Royal Air Force Association, the Malaya and Borneo veterans and the Aden veterans.
"By and large the events since 1945 have been forgotten. The general public are often unaware that a lot of people lost their lives in places like Malaya, Bosnia, Northern Ireland and many more.
"It is something I think is badly needed."
George contacted fellow Malaya and Borneo veteran Councillor Graham Wheat to find out if it would be possible to erect the monument on council land.
The veterans plan for the monument to be erected in the field of remembrance, used in the service each November.
Graham is hopeful St. Peter's Hill will be an acceptable location to the council.
He said: "We would have the Guildhall behind us, you have got the museum as well and we have got people who come and sit to have their lunch the benches around Isaac Newton's statue so it will be seen and people can look at it as they pass by.
"If we had it further away in Abbey Gardens or even the church yard it would not be seen and it would fall, I suppose, into a bad state like some of the other monuments away from the public gaze."
The monument will cost only 200, with local businesses keen to put up the money and Shepherd Memorial Masons in Dysart Road donating a plaque.
Dick Richardson of Ancaster, also a Malaya and Borneo veteran, believes the monument would a fitting tribute.
He said: "The memorial would mean recognition to those who have gone since the end of the Second World War.
"There has only been one year since 1945 where a serviceman has not died on military duty so it has got to be something that must be recognised by the civilian population."
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Sunday 14 March 2010
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