Duke opens £15m remembrance centre
THE Duke of Cambridge met veterans of all three armed services as he officially opened a new £15.7 million remembrance centre at the National Memorial Arboretum.
Prince William also chatted with volunteers and schoolchildren as he was shown a “digital poppy field” which forms part of new educational exhibits at the 150-acre site.
The official opening follows a nine-year fundraising appeal to upgrade facilities for visitors to the arboretum in Alrewas, near Lichfield, in Staffordshire.
As well as unveiling a plaque marking the official opening of the new centre, Prince William visited a police memorial to place a wreath paying tribute to hero Pc Keith Palmer, who died in last week’s horrific ter- ror attack at Westminster Bridge and Parliament.
The new centre, allowing increased visitor numbers to the site’s 330 memorials, opened its doors last October after receiving a £2.85 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Writing in the programme for the event, the Duke said: “The National Memorial Arbo- retum honours and remembers those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of this country.
“This is a place for special memories, many of them sad, but hopefully, many of them happy too.
“We all have an important job to do in keeping these memories alive for future generations and this new remembrance centre will play a significant role in that duty.”
The Duke added: “Most importantly, the new learning centre will help ensure that future generations are engaged in learning about the contributions and sacrifices that have been made.
“They will ensure the memory of the fallen is safeguarded through the years.”