Field of Remembrance National Memorial Arboretum

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Mon 01 Nov 2021

The Royal British Legion 's Field of Remembrance was opened to the public in a moving service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, The& #8239 ; Field of Remembrance & #8239 ;pays tribute to all those who have lost their lives in conflict from the First World War to the present day, with a special recognition of those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.& #8239 ;More than 18,000 Remembrance tributes have been planted at the Arboretum in Alrewas, near Lichfield, each one carrying a personal message to someone who has lost their life during the course of their service. The ceremony on November 1 included the playing of the Last Post, followed by a two-minutes silence, before the final Remembrance tributes were planted to complete the Field of Remembrance.



Charles Byrne, Director General at the Royal British Legion, said at the opening of the Field of Remembrance: "This year we have been marking 100 years of service from the Royal British Legion to our Armed Forces past and present, and their families. All of these tributes carry messages contributed by the public as an act of Remembrance and thanks. These tributes and the many people who have joined us at the National Memorial Arboretum for the opening of this Field of Remembrance show the strong support and affection the public have for our Armed Forces – and the place the National Memorial Arboretum holds as the nation's year-round place to remember. This Field of Remembrance is a place for people across all backgrounds, communities and generations to come together to reflect, to say thanks." RAF veteran Mike Smith,& #8239 ;the longest-serving volunteer at the National Memorial Arboretum, added: "I've been volunteering here since before there were any trees and seeing the service today meant a lot to me. It was a wonderful opportunity to remember those who served and those who lost their lives."



The& #8239 ;Field of Remembrance will be open to members of the public to visit and pay their respects until November 29 with a daily service taking place at& #8239 ;2pm. The Arboretum is open from 10am each day and pre-booking is recommended to guarantee entry. Around 58,000& #8239 ;tributes will be planted across six Royal British Legion Fields of Remembrance taking the form of a Little Remembrance Cross, Muslim Crescent, Star of David, Sikh Khanda, Hindu Om or Secular Tribute.& #8239 ;This& #8239 ;continues& #8239 ;a tradition that began in 1928 when poppies were planted around an original wooden cross, taken from the battlefield grave of an unknown British solider, located in the grounds of Westminster Abbey. The other Fields of& #8239 ;Remembrance are located in Belfast,& #8239 ;Cardiff,& #8239 ;Royal Wootton Bassett, Gateshead and at Westminster Abbey in London.



This year, the Royal British Legion celebrates its centenary, marking 100 years of Remembrance. For further information, visit rbl.org.uk

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!date 01/11/2021 -- 01/11/2021
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