Tribute day for veterans

Around 3,000 people are set to flock to Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum later this month for the annual National Service Day.

The Service and Reunion will be taking place on June 24 at the venue which is in Alrewas, near Lichfield, to pay tribute to ex-service personnel from across the country.

A service will be conducted at 2pm by Commander (Ret'd) David Childs, the founder of the arboretum, in the presence of Field Marshal the Lord Vincent of Coleshill.

During the service there will be Last Post and the laying of wreaths.

Prior to the service, at 1.45pm, there will be a parade of veterans and standards, and after the service there will be a march past.

The Light Cavalry Band will be providing the musical accompaniment.

Last year's National Service Veterans Day was attended by Minister for Veterans Tom Watson, 100 soldiers from Whittington Barracks, the West Midlands Regimental Band and Armed Guards from HMS Forward.

And they stood alongside 3,000 National Service veterans and their families.

The National Service Veterans Association was set up in 2000, and in 2003 a memorial to fallen National service personnel was commissioned and dedicated, and now stands in its own landscaped plot at the arboretum.

The last Sunday in June is officially recognised as National Service Day and, each year, on this day a commemorative service is held at the Arboretum.

The event is organised by the National Service Veterans Association and is open to all.

There is ample free parking at the arboretum site.