The brave men and women of D-Day hold a special place in the nation’s heart. The Normandy Memorial War at the D-Day Story helps Portsmouth families to continue to honour and treasure those who played their part in Operation Overlord.
City MP Stephen Morgan visited the Memorial Wall this weekend to lay a brick bearing the name of his war-hero late grandfather, James Kaminski.
The commemorative brick forms part of the larger wall of tributes situated at the redeveloped D-Day Story in Southsea.
Stephen Morgan MP said:
“Just because the dignitaries have left, the main stage has come down from the seafront and the planes have stopped flying overhead, does not mean that the sacrifices made by those 75 years ago as part of Operation Overlord should be forgotten.
I am committed to ensuring continued and sustained commemoration in our city. Honouring those who made such unprecedented sacrifices should be part of the fabric of our daily life, especially in Portsmouth as our city played such a pivotal role in the allied invasion of Normandy 75 years ago.”
Mr Morgan’s Southsea-born grandfather, who passed away in 2012, served in the Royal Army Service Corp throughout World War 2, leaving Portsmouth for the Juno beach on his 17th birthday.
Upon his arrival back in Portsmouth, where he lived for the rest of his days, he helped found the Normandy Veterans Association which is still a strong commemorative body in the city today.
Mr Morgan said:
“The opportunity for families and relatives of those who took part in Operation Overlord to commission the engraving and installation of a commemorative brick is an excellent way to enshrine the sacrifices made by these brave people in history.
When I met with the Director General of The British Legion in the lead up to D-Day 75, we discussed the importance of continued commemoration for our veterans.
Often, the one-off media-frenzy style of commemoration can leave over veterans feeling lonely and isolated once everyone has packed up and left.
If we can show our veterans on daily basis that we are thinking about their sacrifices, society will be a more welcoming and warmer place for ex-service personnel.”
Colonel Charles Ackroyd of the D-Day Museum Trust added:
“The Normandy Memorial Wall gives an important opportunity to the families of those who took part in that critical event in our history to commemorate their bravery and determination and at the same time help meet the cost of the ongoing education programme”.
Families and relatives of those who took part in the campaign are invited to commission a brick bearing the name and unit of the person they wish to honour and remember. The proceeds from the bricks help the ongoing learning programme at the museum.
Regiments, Corps, ships, squadrons and civilian supporting organisations can also record their participation by having their crest or logo installed on the wall.
For further information go to www.theddaystory.com
