While taking a break from my many tasks I watched our local news and was shocked to hear that a War Memorial had been stolen. A Bronze Plaque listing the names of Plymouth’s fallen heroes had been stolen from the city’s Naval War Memorial on The Hoe. Desecration of any memorial is unforgivable at any time but Plymouth was celebrating Veteran’s Day this weekend. An annual Veteran’s Day was launched by the Ministry of Defence on 27 June 2006. As well as a means of raising public awareness of Veterans issues it is also a celebration of the contribution made by all those who have served in the Armed Forces. Many of our veterans of all ages have been taking part in events all over the country since May and will continue to do so. I am very proud of our veterans and very much aware of the many sacrifices made by the Armed Forces. Sadly the only awareness the memorial thieves have is the scrap value....
Reading this made me think of my own family’s involvement in active service and although no longer alive I would like to acknowledge two of them at this time....
My maternal uncle Frank William Peter Ballaam (Uncle Bill) who served in WW11 and was a veteran until his death in 2002 aged 80.... 
Bill’s brother Ronald Stanley Ballaam (Uncle Ronnie) who also served in WW11. Sadly he did not become a veteran as he was listed as Missing Presumed Dead in 1940 aged 20....My uncles made a difference to this world by the contribution they made as members of the Armed Forces. The names of the people on the stolen plaque made the ultimate sacrifice and the thieves should remember that.
Until next time...lol....
Until next time...lol....
6 comments:
i love the vintage pics!! its wondeful!!
hugs, kim
Hi Kim,thanks for dropping by. Glad you like them & thank you. I'm happy to share them, more to come..lol...Hugs Chrissy x
Hello Chrissy, thanks for dropping into my blog :) Likewise with your blog - nice one - seems we share quite a bit of things in common - love where you live! you lucky thing - all that old stuff around you :) We have probs over here lately too with ppl stealing brass plaques etc for selling to recyclers for use in "other recreational ways" than our type of hobby so to speak. Tis a shame they cant leave things alone.
That is so sad Chrissy. It makes me shake my head in wonder at the disrespect that those people have for our veterans/troops...it is because of their heroic actions that we live the way we do today. God Bless them all..
luv Ann.xx
Thanks Rose, Cornwall is beautiful & it's not the only place with old stuff, you should see my house!!!!
While surfing the net I was shocked to see how many have been stolen, so Oz is sadly not the only place....the other thing we have in common is chocolate...Hugs Chrissy x
I was shocked Ann, I'd just watched the footage for the parade in Plymouth. The thieves must have timed it specifically for the Veteran's w/e, which is a double insult. Channel 4 here did a fantastic series called 'Not Forgotten' abt. our memorials & researched some of the names. Plus where some were discovered..1 broken in a skip, another found in a cellar, etc..there is a book for this series which I would like...I know but 1 more won't be much!!! Hugs Chrissy x
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