On Sunday 18th August I was honoured to be invited to the Annual Burma Star and 74th V.J. Day Commemorative Wreath Laying Service and Parade at Stonefield Park in Stone, Staffs.
Organised by the Stone Burma Star Committee, the service was led by The Rev Brian Williams SSAFA County Chaplin and began with a tribute to the 14th Forgotten Army. This was followed by a parade to the Burma Star Memorial, led by Parade Marshall was Mr Ivan Prescott, who kept proceedings in order and made sure all ran very smoothly.
I was joined by Mrs Pippa Gee, DL from the Lieutenancy Office; Mark Green, Stone Town Mayor; Cllr Peter Jones, Stafford Deputy Mayor; Sir Bill Cash MP; Mrs Heather Hanvey, on behalf of The Royal British Legion Stone Branch; Mr Harry Brunt on behalf of The Burma Star Committee; Mrs Joyce Farnham, on behalf of the Far East Prisoners of War; and Mr Dave MaCarthy on behalf of the Burma Star Veterans, who all laid wreaths of remembrance.
The service was closed by Emma Wild, who was the Bugler and played the last post impeccably.
It was an uplifting tribute to those men and women in the HM and Allied Forces or the Nursing Services who served in the Burma campaign.