The Ying of the Cemetary Vandalism

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

The thread on the recent vandalism of a British War Cemetary in France has disgsuted nearly all of us. However on a brighter note there was a news item on our local TV station last night about a group of schoolchildren in Surrey who have taken it upon themselves to tend the CWGC graves of soldiers buried in their local church yard. They have done this in co-operation with the local British Legion who had been tending the graves but their ageing membership mean't it was starting to be done on a more irregular basis.

As well as doing this, the students have taken it upon themselves to find out about each of the men as a schol project.

Inspirational stuff don't you think?

Ian

[Guest Hill 60]

Inspirational stuff don't you think?

This is a heart-warming story and something to be applauded, good on them.

If this could be encouraged in all schools, then a greater understanding of the sacrifices made by those who served in the Great War could be achieved by a new generation.

[MartinWills]

For a number of years now a local school has visited the war graves plot at one of Northamptons cemeteries at remembrancetide and performed a short ceremony with the placing, by a pupil, of a poppy cross on each of the graves. I don't doubt that this is for many the start of a life long understanding of why the graves are there and what the sacrifice meant. Would that more schools would adopt this simple and effective form of remembrance.

[iain mchenry]

Ian,

Thats good news to hear. I think something similar happens in the Arnhem area of Holland where school children adopt the graves of fallen allied soldiers from the Market Garden operation. A great way of making people learn and never forget sacrifices made.

Iain