http://www.thenma.org.uk/content/How-the-names-are-recorded-1405.shtmlYesterday a friend and I visited Alrewas National Memorial Arboreteun, here in the UK
The Armed Forces Memorial has the engravings of 15,000 names of service men and women who have died through war and terrorism since the 2nd world war. There are bare walls ready to take the names of a further 16,000
Some of the sculptures were very poignant. There is a solidier looking through an open door, as though entering into a different world. If you look through you catch a glimpse of a distant green field. A nurse tending an injured soldier who has fallen. A mother and child in total despair for their husband and father who is being carried from the battlefield. Whilst this is happening, there is a scultor engraving another name.
On the 11th Day of the 11th month, at the 11th hour, the monument is so built, that a shaft of light comes through a fine division in the monument wall, and focuses on the central stone wreath engraved there.
In the chapel there is a beautiful wooden sculpture of Christ. It is entitled The Story Teller. He is talking to 12 children. One of them is not listening. The child is busy investigating something else.
There were two wooden crosses in the chapel to represent the two thieves on the cross. One had a pair of handcuffs hanging from them that were open, to depict he had been forgiven. The other had a pair of handcuffs on that were locked, indicated the thief had not repented.
The volunteers who work there are dedicated and reverent. They are a mixture of very young and old. It would be difficult to say it is a beautiful place, because it is such a sad place. But, for anyone visiting, it is a very peaceful and thoughtful place, most especially for those who have friends and family commorated there.
When we drove away, it was not long before we found ourselves in another world from the place of stillness and reverence we had visited.I cannot say how I felt looking from this place of stillness inside, observing this mad crazy world we live in, they were both identical in many similar ways, but it was most surely a day of thinking about sacrifice, and the importance of focusing on God continually, to raise above the horrors of this world.
The services that will take place here in the UK today, will be remembering all soliders who have lost their lives. Some of it is a little unreal. There are people, who take part, who steal an essence of nobleness and dignity from the rememberance service. They are like the thief with the locked handcuff. But there are many veterans and servicemen today who genuinely do care for the fallen and their families worldwide.
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