YEOVILTON LIFE: Wreath of Respect visits FAA Memorial Church

THE Wreath of Respect marking 100 years of suffering and sacrifice in conflict has been blessed at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church near RNAS Yeovilton having been escorted there by over 30 bikers.

As part of a week-long motorcycle journey throughout the UK a representation of the Royal British Legion Riders - of which there are over 6,000 - called at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church to say thank you to all those who have suffered and died, not just in two world wars but in conflicts up to and including the present day.

Starting at the National Memorial Arboretum on August 16, 2014, the Wreath of Respect began its eight-day motorcycle journey across the UK covering more than 1250 miles.

PHOTO - TOP: The Wreath of Respect arrives at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church near RNAS Yeovilton.

PHOTO - RIGHT: The Wreath of Respect.

Stop offs have and will include Glasgow, York, Liverpool, Cardiff, Plymouth, Oxford and relevant and fitting  places in between before returning to the National Memorial Arboretum tomorrow (Saturday, August 23, 2014).

The first major stop was at Ely Cathedral last Saturday (August 16, 2014). At each stop the wreath has been laid to rest for a short period of time before being passed to another rider for the next leg of the trip. A short act of thanksgiving and blessing is held before the wreath continues on its journey.

The purpose of this nationwide wreath tour is to honour all those who have suffered and died in conflicts up to the present day. It is to acknowledge not just the pain and loss of Service men and women themselves, but also of their loved ones alongside raising money for the Royal British Legion.

Dougie Bancroft, the organiser of the Wreath of Respect Tour, said: “We have all seen the amazing pictures from the D-Day landings and we feel that many people here would like to show respect too.

“The Wreath of Respect is a project that will be bring people together to say thank you to all those who have given so much.”

PHOTO - RIGHT: Rev Martin Evans, team leader of the chaplaincy at RNAS Yeovilton.

The Wreath has been especially commissioned for the event and will be laid to rest on each of the six nights while travelling the United   Kingdom.

It is a wreath of bronze poppies and incorporated in the centre of the wreath is a horseshoe from London’s Horse Guards Parade.

The horseshoe is a reminder that over one million horses made a contribution to the First World War thus representing the non combative element of conflict.  

The Wreath left the FAA Memorial Church to continue its journey and travel down to Cornwall and visit RAF St Mawgan, TS Hood (St Austell Sea Cadets) and the final leg of the journey will see the Wreath transported to HMS Raleigh where it will rest overnight.

The Wreath returns to the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire on the last day, on Saturday (August 23, 2014) for a service of dedication with a two minutes silence and the last post.

The Wreath will then be laid to rest at the Memorial and will be on display. The RBLR could not think of a more fitting place to lay the Wreath laid to rest after completing its respectful journey.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church organist Richard Williamson.

            PHOTOS: As part of a week-long motorcycle journey throughout the UK a representation of the Royal British Legion Riders - of which there are over 6,000 - called at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church to say thank you to all those who have suffered and died, not just in two world wars but in conflicts up to and including the present day.

PHOTOS - ABOVE: Bikers at the service at the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church near RNAS Yeovilton.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Members of the Royal British Legion Riders at the FAA Memorial Church.

Tags:
News.