Falklands’ remembrance service in Gosport to honor 3 Islanders and 255 killed in action
Veterans, next of kin, local authorities and special guests attended on Sunday a remembrance service for the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands conflict in Gosport, overlooking Portsmouth harbour.
With temperatures around 27 degrees, hundreds gathered in Gosport Falklands Gardens for the special event. Attended by some 250 Falklands veterans, next of kin of those who were killed, youth groups, civic dignitaries and military guests, the service was accompanied by music from the Royal Marines School of Music band. A Sea King helicopter provided the fly past.
In a very moving ceremony, local students read out the names of all those who made the supreme sacrifice, whilst three single yellow roses were laid to remember the Falkland Islanders who died and 255 single carnations to remember those killed in action were placed at the Falklands memorial stone by next of kin, students and invited guests.
The service was conducted by Reverend Andy Davis vicar of Holy Trinity Church with the address given by Reverend Godfrey Hilliard who served with 40 Commando during the conflict.
Following the service, the veterans marched down the High Street to applause from the many Gosport residents who had turned out to watch the event. A reception was then held for all the participants in two large marquees in Walpole Gardens.
Secretary of the UK Falkland Islands All Party Parliamentary Group, MP Andrew Rosindell, Caroline Dineage MP for Gosport and who visited the Falklands on the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme visit in 2011 together with the Chairman of the local branch of SAMA 82, Gary Clement and the Falkland Islands Government Representative in London, Sukey Cameron MBE, were present at the ceremony.
Gosport councillor Derek Kimber said it had been a “very moving” service. He said: “A lot of families were very unhappy when their sailors departed from the harbour - unfortunately there were some ships that didn't come back.”
The Gosport Borough Council has a strong association with the Falklands Campaign of 1982 and has arranged ceremonies of commemoration in 1997, 2002, 2007 and now 2012.
The aptly named Falkland Gardens, with its Admiral Fieldhouse bust, mosaic designed by the Falklands Government and the Falklands Stone have become a place of pilgrimage over the years.
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17 comments Feed
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May all that rest in eternal sleep Argentine and British service personnel be remembered for their sacrifice that they gave for their countries. Amen
Beloved sons and daughters, wives, fathers and mothers will not attend future weddings, births, and graduations. Our thanks for what those brave have given is all we can offer to their families today.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-the-Falklands-British/123151384435619?sk=wall&filter=3
May 29th, 2012 - 09:50 pm
That comment was totally unnecessary and in extremely bad taste, none of the Brits has slagged our dead combatants in any of these threads.
As far as I am concerned tobias @7 has just crossed the line in his viperpous attack against the British on this thread, relating to British war dead.
I for one will not be responding to him again unless, and until, we get a sincere apology and a promise of reasonable behaviour for the future.
I do hope and trust that there are others who feel the way I do and treat him accordingly.
@8 Simon68
Thank you for your comments.
“TO ALL BRITS”....A Ynsere apology?....from Mercosur web page ....
This page is intentional presented to receive and send the most offensive insults. Take it or leave it...
Poor baby.....I laugh at your defensive “male”..sensitivity...
It seems you did not heed the warning, so from now on any comment you make will either be ignored or it will be insulted or we will ask Merco to treat all your comments as if they are abuse.
To all British followers of MercoPress please ignore or insult or report anything that tobias writes in the future, on any topic throughout any of the articles that MercoPress post.
Most welcome.
14 tobias
LIAR.
@15 Christ Repulsive
@13 Ynsere Skare IsoldeThink same suecas
After all the insults made against the argentine leader, insults directly to me, and to argentine citizens calling them with offensive words .....you guys feel the pain??????... Hey, you are the ones mentally challenged...This web page is read by thousands of us citizens, we all agreed it was made to insult each other....welcome to the club....Hahaha....laugh is the best medicine.....
You can insult the politics but
when you insult the war dead
you become a slimy insect worthy
only to be stepped on and crushed....
SHAME ON YOU.
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