South Tyneside's Veterans' Walk has been officially opened

Shields Gazette

Families of South Tyneside veterans joined together to witness the unveiling of the first phase of the borough’s Veterans’ Walk in North Marine Park, in South Shields, on Saturday, April 5.

Transcript

00:00A lot of councils have shown interest in having almost like their own tribute because that's what

00:05this is. This isn't a memorial, this is a lasting tribute so it's for all service personnel whether

00:11they're with us or passed on or even still serving. And phase one in South Tyneside obviously this is

00:18the start hopefully of something bigger. We started 10 years ago in Sunderland and we've

00:23done 14 phases now we've got nearly 1200 stones down so there's an appetite for this sort of

00:30tribute and we'd like to see it grow through this park up towards the steps at the top end.

00:38I just hope that everyone who's come today is really proud of what they've seen and they'll

00:41spread the word to other members of the horses community and encourage them to become part of

00:49this project going forward. I think yes we remember the fallen every Remembrance Day

00:55and on other days but we never remember the people who actually served and then came back

01:01and that's what this walkway is really all about. Yes we will have tablets for the fallen

01:08but it's mostly for the veterans who returned but we've never ever said thank you.

01:13And I think it's a marvellous idea, it's a national idea. I think Sunderland were before us

01:20but we're very proud to have walked ours today. It's a fabulous walkway right in front of the

01:26sea, a lovely place to walk and to remember and to say thank you and I'm sure once people do know

01:34about this that people will come forward and want to remember their own loved ones. My dad served

01:40he was in the Royal Navy, he came back and lived to a ripe old age and many did but we've never

01:47said thank you. It's just a massive thank you to the people who kept this coming.

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