The service at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) this morning saw Margaret Allen wife of one of the British armed forces (Able Seaman Iain Boldy) who lost their life in the Falklands conflict light a candle to remember those who died in the conflict.
This candle will burn for seventy-four days, the length of the Falklands conflict itself.
Although this was obviously an extremely emotionally challenging thing to do she handled it with dignity and having lit the candle prayed for herself and all those affected by this, and all, conflicts:
We pray for our families and those we love.
Touch them with your love,
guard them with your strength
and surround them with your protection we pray.
Amen.
For those of you who have family members who were involved with the Falklands, or any other of the conflicts, can I recommend a visit to the NMA? A place where the nation truly does remember and a place well worth a visit.
Pax
Showing posts with label thirty years. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thirty years. Show all posts
Monday, 2 April 2012
Falklands 30
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
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
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