Memorials
 

Am I getting things out of perspective, just a grumpy old man (as SWMBO
says I am), or ..............


The Government has announced it is going to fund the building and presumably the maintenance of two memorials, one to those killed in Tunisia, and the other to Brits killed by terrorists "abroad". Now I have no problem with that, but why then do memorials to servicemen killed in defence of this country have to wait for public and charity fund raising for their memorials and, for example, those who got the bomber Command Memorial built have to worry that their personal assets are at risk for building and maintenance costs

National Memorial Arboretum
 

Wander. You beat me to it. There already exists a memorial to service and civilian organisations and bereaved of all classifications. From firefighters to service widows there are gardens of remembrance at Alrewas. The overseas and indeed the domestic loss of life to terrorist activity should be commemorated here.
It is indeed a tragedy that the sacrifices of wartime endeavour are not as well commemorated, funded or maintained.

Concur fully with you both - I had the same thought this morning. A sadly typical knee-jerk populist manoeuvre, and only slightly better than bunches of flowers tied to lamp-posts.

Really unnecessary and inappropriate. Indeed, one could imagine these memorials being a target for vandalism by extremists.

DougieM - thanks for mentioning the Arboretum. Hope to visit there in the next few weeks whilst I am in UK

I agree with you all above.

The Sunday Times mentions that this 'memorial' is to be funded from Bank LIBOR fixing fines.

Just read the news, and concur with all of the above.

So well done all, and welcome to the Grumpy Old Man Club :)

I find it interesting that politicians, Osborne in particular thinks we cannot work out that Libor fines are still "public" money, however he spends it. IMHO this new memorial to the thirty murdered in Tripoli, however atrocious and sad the event, is a knee jerk, publicity seeking, "political" act. IMHO a step too far

Agree with all the above.
Ray

To fit in with certain modern culture, non-military memorials must surely be chained to a lamp post with the words "RIP brave soljas, you is with the angles now, innit" featured.

In all fairness we always have built one to mark tragedies, an example being the Aberfan disaster, or the Cathederal ruins in Coventry etc, so nothing new there.

It just rankles when they will not fund the upkeep of the memorial, ( or indeed originally build it ) to the thousands killed in Bomber Command, but will do it for 30 holiday makers

And flowers I note - outside the West London Coroner's Court ???

Is it just me ..........:confused:

The Daily Mail last week had photos of 'Homeless East Europeans' Camping and eating food on the 7/7 memorial in the Royal parks....
mmitch.

This must be the first thread to get so far in total unanimity. We must all be GOM

What did you expect, it is the Mil History forum...:ok::p

Knee jerk reaction from a PM who feels guilty that he has helped to create this particular massacre. Interesting that his statement wasn't queried in the national press, as on this thread. If relevant monuments/memorials already exist why create more ? Or was the great Eton mess not aware of their existance? :ugh:

Smudge

Being as self awareness indicates a well developed higher brain function could we reach a consensus that Cameron and Eton mess are actually one and the same on the evolutionary scale?

As to the OP; I agree with all of the above. Remarkable really.

I honestly don't see the point.The people murdered and their families have my utmost sympathy.But if we built a memorial every time something dreadful happened ?

Interesting since, whilst I concur with the general tenor regarding the main thrust of the thread, I cannot wholly agree with some of the supplementary sentiments expressed by some of those whose posts I generally respect and admire.:hmm:

Jack

Wander00:-
Perhaps the Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial would have been built much sooner had the Royal Air Force not just left it to a pop singer to make it happen. Who knows, if it had been given such official support it might have been funded in part and/or underwritten by the public purse. As it was the veterans themselves were left to pick up the pieces. Never in the field....