Visit to Alrewas National Memorial Aboreteum

Visit with Sue to Alrewas....

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 15,000

A Better Land
Some of the sculptures were very poignant. There is a soldier 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.

The Hurt
There is a scupture of 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 sculptor engraving another name.

The Story Teller
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.

Freedom
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.

Volunteers
The volunteers who work there are dedicated and reverent. They are a mixture of very young and old

Peace
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 commerated there.

Madness
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.

We Will Remember Them
I cannot say how I felt after visiting this place of stillness, and then 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, the importance of freedom, and those who dedicate their lives in protecting us. It was sad to see some young soldiers visiting there as well to take part in a service.

The Arboretum is situated in the centre of England on Croxall Road, Alrewas in Staffordshire. It is easy to reach from any part of the country and is close to all the Midlands motorways.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA2mky_eP_M