Falklands : Veterans Minister Announces South Atlantic 25
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 27.04.2006 (Article Archived on 11.05.2006)
Mr. Don Touhig, Minister of State for Veterans Affairs, has announced the 25th anniversary commemorations for the 1982 Conflict.
VETERANS MINISTER ANNOUNCES FALKLANDS 25TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIONS
By J. Brock (FINN)
Mr. Don Touhig, Minister of State for Veterans Affairs, has announced in Parliament the plans to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. He calls the project “South Atlantic 25.”
The series of events will begin on Thursday June 14, 2007 with the annual service of remembrance in the Falklands Islands Memorial Chapel at Pangbourne College, Berkshire with the parade three days later.
A Drumhead Service at Horse Guards Parade on Sunday, 17 June 2007 will be the centrepiece of the commemorations and will be a mark of respect for the 255 British Servicemen and 3 Islanders who lost their lives in the conflict. Approximately 660 Argentine military also lost their lives in the war.
Argentina invaded the Islands on 02 April 1982 and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ordered 100 ships and 27,000 servicemen and women to be sent to the South Atlantic to take back the Falklands by force.
Minister Touhig said, "The focus will be on the veterans of the campaign and they will be supported by a tri-service band and serving members of the Armed Forces and Merchant Navy representing ships, units and squadrons which took part in the operation."
Families of veterans will also participate and the Minister continued, “The armed forces will also participate in local commemorations being planned by the Falkland Government."
The MoD will work the Foreign Office and veterans organisations to plan events in the UK and will liaise with the Falkland Islands authorities.
Last month a team from the BBC and the MoD came to the Falklands to look at the memorials and battlefields, etc. where commemorations will take place. A further announcement about local commemorations will be published in due course.
|
