Gosport Borough Council will be holding a Service of Remembrance on Sunday 3 June to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the end of the Falkland War.
The ceremony will be held in the Falkland Gardens, so named because it was from here that families watched their loved ones sail for the Falkland Islands. It was also in this beautiful harbour side garden that families congregated to await their safe return.
Unfortunately not all families were so lucky. Their loved ones sadly didn’t return safely and it is these families that Gosport Borough Council wish to contact.
“We would like the families who lost someone in the Falkland War and who wish to attend our ceremony to do so as our guest,” said Councillor Shaun Cully, Leader of the Council. “Instead of watching from the sidelines they will be welcomed into the garden to take part in the service and given the opportunity to lay a flower at the memorial in memory of their loved one.”
Although this is the first time nationally that the Falkland War has been commemorated, it is the third time that the people of Gosport have had a commemoration ceremony to attend.
“Such was the impact of the Falkland war on the town; practically everyone had a family member, neighbour or friend serving over there and televisions and radios were constantly tuned in for news,” added Cllr Cully. “We as a community will never forget those days and it is our job as the local council, to give those who lost someone the opportunity and a place to continue to remember them.”
“We realise that there are a great many other ceremonies being held this year up and down the country, and that people move on and away from an area. But we would ask the media to put out this message, so that families who lost a loved one and wish to attend our ceremony on Sunday 3 June can do so.”
Relatives of those lost and who wish to attend should contact the Mayor’s PA, Michelle Barrett at the Town Hall on Tel: (023) 9254 5202.
An open invitation is also extended to all Falkland Veterans to take part in the ceremony and exercise their right to process through the town in memory of their friends and colleagues.
Veterans wishing to take part should contact Falkland veteran, Derek ‘Smokey’ Cole on Tel: 01329 317285 who is co-ordinating the veterans and the march past.
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