Tri-Service

Ground Breaking Ceremony At The National Memorial Arboretum

A £15.7 million visitor's centre will be an "exciting new addition" to the National Memorial Arboretum, the Duke of Cambridge has said.

Building work on the memorial garden's Remembrance Centre has already started, but today there was a ceremonial breaking of the ground.

Prince William, the project's patron, said:

"The Arboretum is a place of sanctuary, but also a place of education and those who visit deserve to be looked after when they are here."

The Prince was unable to attend in person, but had his words read aloud by another supporter, the TV star Dame Penelope Keith.

He added: "In just over a year's time, the project will be complete - an exciting new addition to this very special place - and I look forward to seeing it in person."

The arboretum, made up of more than 300 monuments including the centrepiece Armed Forces Memorial, has welcomed growing numbers of visitors since opening at Alrewas in Staffordshire in 2001.

When first proposed, fewer than 100,000 people a year were expected - but with growing public awareness and recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, triple that figure now visit annually.

The Royal British Legion, which runs the 150-acre site, is hoping the new centre will cater for half a million visitors each year, educating people about British and Commonwealth service personnel killed on active service since the Second World War.

Dame Penelope said the arboretum was "a remarkable place", allowing visitors to pay respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

She said:

"We tend to concentrate on the Cenotaph - quite rightly so - and the dead of the two enormous wars, but it's to remind people servicemen do go on working, and die as well."

During the ceremony, Dame Penelope and young sea cadet Beth Molyneux each took a hand on the spade, to dig a symbolic patch of earth near what will eventually be a landscaped area known as Heroes' Square.

The 10-year-old girl also read a touching poem about why she wears a poppy, in memory of her father Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux.

He was fatally shot on board the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Astute while docked at Southampton in 2011.

The naval officer was killed by Able Seaman Ryan Donovan, who was later jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years after admitting murder.

You can read the beautiful poem below…

 
Why Do You Wear a Poppy Beth?
 
“Why do you wear a Poppy Beth?” my friend asked,
 
“I’d like to know...
 
You are too young to remember, the wars from long ago!”
 
I smiled the biggest smile,
 
As big, as big can be,
 
To show just what my poppy,
 
Really means to me.
 
As I began to tell her,
 
I stood all nice and tall,
 
And remembered what my Daddy said,
 
When I was very small.
 
You see, my Daddy was a sailor,
 
He sailed beneath the sea,
 
And when he was on his submarine,
 
He was as happy as can be.
 
My Daddy used to tell me,
 
“Bethie...wear your Poppy with PRIDE,
 
It’s to send love to our force
 
And remember those that died.
 
When people see your poppy Beth,
 
They’ll see how proud you are,
 
To remember all those fighting,
 
For our country, near and far”.
 
I am only 10-years-old,
 
But it’s so important that I know,
 
They were fighting for our freedom,
 
In the wars so long ago.
 
It is because of their sacrifice,
 
That we are free, you see,
 
To proudly fly our Union flag,
 
For all the world to see.
 
And it’s because of those still fighting,
 
In wars across the world,
 
That I can sleep safely in my bed,
 
Free from any cares.
 
Lots of those out fighting,
 
To keep our country free,
 
Are brave Mummies and Daddies,
 
Of children, just like me.
 
It’s why it’s so important,
 
Whilst they are fighting hard,
 
To look after all the children,
 
And keep them safe from harm.
 
Because, these children are the future,
 
Of the country in which we live,
 
The very country our armed forces.
 
Are fighting to protect.
 
There’s another special reason,
 
That I wear my Poppy with pride,
 
It’s because my Daddy, my hero,
 
Bravely gave his life.
 
He wasn’t away in a foreign land,
 
He was on his submarine,
 
Protecting the boat and her crew,
 
In the name of Her Majesty the Queen.
 
Now my Daddy is an angel,
 
In heaven up above,
 
With all the others that have died,
 
For the country that they love.
 
So when I wear my poppy,
 
So proudly on my chest,
 
It’s there to show our forces
 
Really are the best.
 
It’s to remember all those people,
 
Who gave their lives for our today,
 
And for my brave Daddy, my hero,
 
Who in my heart will always stay.
 
My friend listened to my story,
 
And then quietly said,
 
“I’d like to get a Poppy,
 
To pin onto my chest.
 
So I too can wear it proudly,
 
For all the world to see,
 
So I too will always remember,
 
The reason I am free!”

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