| Monday 13 November 2006 09:28
Ministry Of Defence (National)
25th Anniversary of the Falklands conflict
The 25th anniversary of the Falklands Campaign will be commemorated across 8,000
miles and four time zones, in London, Pangbourne and the Falkland Islands from
14 to 17 June 2007, Veterans' Minister Derek Twigg announced today.
Speaking at the launch of the commemorations on HMS Illustrious, Mr Twigg said:
"The Falklands campaign was one of the most memorable
events in post-war British history. The liberation of the Islands was a huge
achievement by our Forces, operating in harsh conditions 8,000 miles away
from home.
"The commemorations nexy year will provide us with an
opportunity to reflect on the events of 25 years ago. We will take time to
remember those who gave their lives to defend the freedom of the Falkland
Islands.
"As well as the principal events in London, Pangbourne
and Stanley, we anticipate that local communities and veterans groups around
the country will organize smaller scale events."
The Falklands story is not just an historic one. Over the past
25 years a great many of our current generation of Service men and women
have seen Service in the Falklands and have been moved by the memorials to
the fallen they maintain around the Islands; the Armed Forces connection
with the Falklands is therefore personal and current.
Commemorations will look too at what the Islanders themselves
have achieved in the 25 years since the conflict, building a robust and thriving
community worthy of the sacrifices made.
Official events begin on Liberation Day Thursday 14 June at
the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel in the grounds of Pangbourne 'nautical'
College, Berkshire. This service of Commemoration and Remembrance is held
annually on behalf of the Falklands Families Association, but will have special
significance in 2007 when it will be attended by senior members of the Royal
family, and carried live on BBC.
Later that day (UK time) attention will turn to the Falkland
Islands and the first of a series of ambitious live link ups with the Islands.
A service at Christchurch Cathedral, Stanley will be followed by an Act of
Commemoration at the Falklands War Memorial, and British Forces currently
based on the Islands will parade through Stanley exercising the Freedom of
the City that was bestowed on them by the Falkland Islands Government in
2002.
The showpiece event of these commemorations will be on Sunday
17 June. This will consist of a high impact visual event on Horse Guards
Parade followed by a march past of veterans and their modern day service
counterparts up The Mall to Buckingham Palace to witness a fly past of aircraft
from the Falklands era as well as some of those flown by the same squadrons
today. Central to the event will be the personal recollections of veterans
and Islanders as they tell their stories in their own words.
Notes to Editors
1. Space in the audience on Horse Guards Parade will be limited, so tickets
will initially be restricted to veterans (military and civilian), their
guests and families. Anyone wishing to attend should apply using the application
form found on the Veterans Agency website: http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk or
by writing to: The Veterans Agency, Room 6108, Norcross, Thornton-Cleveleys,
Lancs, FY5 3WP. The application form can be either e-mailed or posted to
the Veterans Agency. Applications should be made before the end of February
2007. Only those successful in their applications will receive notification
from the VA, and tickets will be sent out along with an information leaflet
about the event in late May 2007. The Veterans Agency Helpline on 0800
169 2277 will be able to help with any problems encountered.
2. It is hoped that as many as possible of the campaign's veterans
will be able to attend the event in Horseguards, and up to 15,000 tickets
will be available. If demand for tickets is high they will be allocated in
priority order:
* Holders of the South Atlantic Medal (1982) and war widows;
* Other widows and families; and
* Others, both civilian and military, associated with the conflict.
3. The annual Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication for
veterans and their families at the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel, Pangbourne
'nautical' College, Berkshire, will be broadcast live by the BBC on Thursday
14 June 2007, the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Port Stanley.
4. The events in the Falkland Islands will include a band of
the Royal Marines, and HM Ships deployed in the area will provide a backdrop.
5. The main event in the UK will be a commemoration on Horse
Guards Parade, London, starting at 1430 on Sunday 17 June 2007, and will
focus on the veterans of the campaign. Serving members of the Armed Forces,
Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Merchant Navy and Falkland Islands Defence Force and
civilians who helped make the Task Force possible will be present, supported
by a tri-service band. A traditional "Drumhead" ceremony will
be followed by a march past by veterans and a fly past.
6. Senior members of the Royal Family will attend each of the
commemorative events, which will all be covered live by the BBC.
7. The organisers will endeavour to ensure that as many South
Atlantic Medal (1982) holders attend as possible. If necessary they will
issue tickets to allow medal holders to march even if tickets are not available
for their guests in the stands.
8. Further details of the events will be available from the
official Falklands 25 Website: http://www.falklands25.com.
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