The Armed Forces Memorial, which forms part of the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield, has been short-listed for a prestigious award by the National Lottery

Harriers from 4 Squadron RAF Cottesmore
fly over the Armed Forces Memorial (May 2008)
[Picture: Sgt Graham Spark]

The Memorial, which received £2.4 million of Lottery money, commemorates the 16,000 service men and women who have been killed on duty or as a result of terrorism since the end of the Second World War.

Since the dedication of the Memorial in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen last October, the whole Arboretum has become a national focal point for remembrance. As a result, the Memorial is now competing against nine other short-listed entrants in the Best Heritage Project category. To get through to the finals of the Awards, the public needs to register their vote of support.

Sir Henry Every Bt, spokesman for the campaign to secure the award for the Armed Forces Memorial, said:

"The National Lottery Awards are an annual search to find the UK's favourite Lottery-funded projects. The aim is to celebrate and recognise the difference that those projects have made to people, places and communities across the UK.

"Winning the award will help us to further commemorate the brave service people who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It will also help acknowledge the suffering of the families and loved ones left behind, including those affected by current conflicts."

"Winning the award will help us to further commemorate the brave service people who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. It will also help acknowledge the suffering of the families and loved ones left behind, including those affected by current conflicts."

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission pays tribute to those who died during the two World Wars. However, until the creation of the Armed Forces Memorial, there was no national memorial for those who have lost their lives from 1948 onwards.

Names will be added to the Memorial in future years, and there are empty panels with space for an additional 15,000 names. The names of those killed in 2007 have recently been engraved on the Memorial, and names will continue to be added on a yearly basis.

The Memorial, designed by architect Liam O'Connor, includes three elements: the first being a large six metre high earth mound, 100 metres wide at its base reducing to just over 50 metres wide at the top; the second, a 43 metre diameter stone structure, comprising two curved walls and two straight walls standing on top of the mound; and, the third, evocative bronze sculptures which stand in front of the walls.

Votes can be registered at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards by clicking through to the Best Heritage Project category or by phoning 0845 386 4459. Voting finishes on Friday 4 July 2008.

The online story is at http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/ArmedForcesMemorialNominatedForLotteryAward.htm

               

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