This evening Lawley & Overdale Parish Council, along with members from the Armed Forces, teachers and students from the local schools, representatives from various community groups and our partners paid tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice whilst fighting for the freedom we all enjoy today.
The D-Day landings of 6 June 1944 was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Along with the associated airborne operations, it marked the beginning of the liberation of France and western Europe.
On this morning, 80 years ago, allied ground troops landed across five assault beaches, codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. By the end of the day, the Allies had established themselves on the shore and could advance into France.
Squadron Sergeant Major Dean Moss from the Shropshire Yeomanry and his colleagues, Squadron Leader Garfield Parker, representatives from the Lawley Village Academy School, Lawley Primary School, The Linden Centre, First Lawley Brownies, Lawley Rangers, Lawley Guides along with those from BVT in Lawley Village, Lawley Bank Court – Sanctuary Supported Living, Telford Hall Sandstone Care Group, joined Parish Councillors and staff for the unveiling of a new commemorative sculpture at the War Memorial.
The sculpture has been designed and created by Steel Street a local company who specialise in fabrications using metal.
Their vision and innovativeness turned a pair of old, muddy boots into a poignant depiction of what took place eighty years ago on the beaches of Normandy.
The sculpture also displays the names of the five beaches on which the soldiers landed, along with a Remembrance tribute of a cross with a poppy and was kindly installed for free by another local company, Midland Landscapes.
The International Tribute was read along with an extract from The Exhortation and The Kohima Epitaph, and representatives took part in a two minute silence before laying crosses as a mark of respect.
Whilst the number of those soldiers who remain grow fewer every year, their bravery is an inspiration and they will always be remembered.