The Veterans’ Foundation has awarded a grant of £4,000 so that friends and family can continue to honour those who took part in D-Day and Operation Market Garden during World War Two.
The grant was awarded in May to the 1944 Alliance Normandy-Market Garden, which will put it towards a new stone memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum and its future maintenance.
The new memorial is made of Indian marble and is currently being created ready for its unveiling at the memorial site at Alrewas in Staffordshire in September to coincide with the anniversary of the beginning of Operation Market Garden in Holland in 1944.
The Alliance has had a stone memorial and two wooden benches at the arboretum since 1998.
“They were looking a bit tired and we thought it was time for a refresh,” said the charity’s Chairman of Trustees, Alan James.
“We had been busy raising funds but had a shortfall, which the Veterans’ Foundation has very kindly helped us with.
“Unfortunately, there are very few veterans of the Second World War left now, but it is still important to their friends and families that they have a serene place to remember and honour them. It means so much, so we are very grateful to be able to continue to offer this facility.”
The charity’s last surviving veteran of the campaigns died earlier this year.
Louise Buchanan, Grants Manager at the Veterans’ Foundation, said:
“It is important to keep alive the memory and to honour the lives and sacrifices of those who took part in the operations.
“We were delighted to help top up the efforts of this charity that helps to uphold the respect and dignity of those who participated in the campaigns and to continue to foster good relations between the Netherlands, France and Britain.”
