Today I have the privilege of conducting a service dedicating and lighting a candle commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the Falklands conflict at the national Memorial Arboretum.
The candle will burn for 74 days - the length of the conflict - and remembers the two hundred and fifty-five men of the British armed forces who gave their lives.
Perhaps those of you who pray might like to pray for the families of the British forces who died and for those who saw action there.
We also need to pray for those on the other side of the conflict, for although opposed to us, they were 'brothers in arms' and as such we remember also the six hundred and forty-nine Argentinians and their families and pray for peace between our nations.
We pray for those who live in the Falklands and remember the three women from the island who died and pray for the whole community and those who serve there.
Today gives many the opportunity for jingoistic outpourings but for those who lost loved ones in this conflict it is surely a time for peace, reconciliation and a turning away from conflict.
In May, the National Memorial Arboretum will be dedicating a Falklands memorial and as the bodies of the fallen lie in San Carlos Bay and others died at sea this memorial will present a place where the names of all those who have fallen will come together (they are of course already on the Armed Forces Memorial).
Please pray for all affected by today.
Pax
3 comments:
I join you in prayer. Tootallburd has been terminated! I am now at http://theministersmrs.wordpress.com/
I'll be praying along with you. I just missed the Falklands conflict as I was posted from the Para Bde signals to Germany a couple of months before it.
I knew well, Major Mike Forge and SSgt Joe Baker, both killed when their helicopter was shot down by friendly fire.
May they rest in peace and rise in Glory, Amen
When I heard about this on the radio this morning I wondered whether you were doing this and prayed for you and others involved. I trust it all went well.
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