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Queen unveils new forces memorial Queen unveils new forces memorial
(20 minutes later)
The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales are attending the dedication of the new national Armed Forces Memorial.The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales are attending the dedication of the new national Armed Forces Memorial.
The £6m stone circle in Alrewas, Staffordshire, bears the names of 16,000 service personnel who have died since World War II.The £6m stone circle in Alrewas, Staffordshire, bears the names of 16,000 service personnel who have died since World War II.
The memorial honours those killed in combat and training as well as in acts of terrorism.The memorial honours those killed in combat and training as well as in acts of terrorism.
The royal party has been joined by politicians including PM Gordon Brown.The royal party has been joined by politicians including PM Gordon Brown.
There is room for 15,000 more names to be carved on the Portland stone walls of the memorial, at the National Memorial Arboretum.There is room for 15,000 more names to be carved on the Portland stone walls of the memorial, at the National Memorial Arboretum.
The magnificence of this new memorial will, at long last, provide a fitting recognition for all those killed on duty since the end of the Second World War Prince Charles There will be sorrow for family and friends who come here, but I hope they will also be uplifted and proud Vice-Admiral Sir John Dunt
The service began with prayers by speakers including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. Vice-Admiral Sir John Dunt, chairman of the Armed Forces Memorial Trustees, opened the ceremony with a speech in which he spoke of the sorrow and pride of the families of the deceased.
During his address, the archbishop spoke of the importance of memorials. He said: "I hope that those who have been bereaved and colleagues of those whose names are engraved find this a fitting place to remember and reflect.
"There will be sorrow for family and friends who come here, but I hope they will also be uplifted and proud - proud that these men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice have done so by serving their country."
Also at the ceremony was the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who spoke of the importance of memorials.
He said: "All the service and skill that keeps us secure may be invisible a lot of the time, but if we are not to be dishonest, shallow and unreal, we need to make the invisible visible once in a while.He said: "All the service and skill that keeps us secure may be invisible a lot of the time, but if we are not to be dishonest, shallow and unreal, we need to make the invisible visible once in a while.
"And that's what today is about. Naming all those who have been ready to risk everything for the good of our national community and, indeed, the good of our world." "And that's what today is about. Naming all those who have been ready to risk everything for the good of our national community and, indeed, the good of our world.
The royal party is touring the memorial, designed by architect Liam O'Connor, and meeting the families of service personnel. The Queen has been meeting the families of service personnel
"Some of them have died in heroic circumstances, some in tragedy and conflict, some in routine duties but all of them as parts of a single, great and generous enterprise."
The royal party has toured the memorial, designed by architect Liam O'Connor, and met the families of service personnel.
During her tour, the Queen took a moment to examine the name of the Earl Mountbatten, her cousin, who was killed by a Provisional IRA bomb in 1979.
Prince Charles said the people of the UK owed those whose names featured on the memorial "an enormous debt of gratitude".Prince Charles said the people of the UK owed those whose names featured on the memorial "an enormous debt of gratitude".
He said: "The magnificence of this new memorial will, at long last, provide a fitting recognition for all those killed on duty since the end of the Second World War.He said: "The magnificence of this new memorial will, at long last, provide a fitting recognition for all those killed on duty since the end of the Second World War.
"It does not differentiate between those killed in the heat of battle or on a training exercise, by terrorist action or on peace-keeping missions.""It does not differentiate between those killed in the heat of battle or on a training exercise, by terrorist action or on peace-keeping missions."
'Extremely proud''Extremely proud'
The head of Britain's armed forces said the memorial would serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices being made.The head of Britain's armed forces said the memorial would serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices being made.
The Queen has been meeting the families of service personnel Dr Williams said it was important to remember the war dead
Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was a chance for the British public to reconnect with the military.Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was a chance for the British public to reconnect with the military.
"I think there is no doubt that the British public is extremely proud of its armed forces," Sir Jock said."I think there is no doubt that the British public is extremely proud of its armed forces," Sir Jock said.
"It is equally important that the public understand and support the armed forces, not just in themselves, but in what they do.""It is equally important that the public understand and support the armed forces, not just in themselves, but in what they do."
Sir Jock said with post-war military deaths more likely to come in "ones, twos and fours", it had become harder for the public to collectively appreciate those losses.Sir Jock said with post-war military deaths more likely to come in "ones, twos and fours", it had become harder for the public to collectively appreciate those losses.
"I am delighted that we are now in the position in this country of having a memorial which will bring home to many the total scale of the sacrifices and commitment that people in the armed forces have made," he said."I am delighted that we are now in the position in this country of having a memorial which will bring home to many the total scale of the sacrifices and commitment that people in the armed forces have made," he said.
The memorial will open to visitors on 29 October.The memorial will open to visitors on 29 October.