February has been a month of a change in emphasis for the National LGBT+ Armed Forces Community Memorial project.
Up to now we have been focussed on consulting with our veterans and serving personnel, creating the requirements, and finding the artists to deliver this important part of the recommendations from the Lord Etherton Report. But, with the selection of the Abraxas Academy as the winning team to deliver their truly amazing design, the project moves into its delivery phase.
Our contract is now in place and the Abraxas Academy, based in Kings Lynn, are working all out to meet the very tight deadline of completion of the installation by the end of August. The next major milestone of activity has been completed with the submission of the application for a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. While the Chief Operating Officer, Mark Ellis, has been involved in the project from the start, being part of our Steering Group and a member of the Judging Panel that chose the winning design, there are processes to be followed and that formal application is one of them. The National Memorial Arboretum Landscapes and Memorial Committee will now sit and consider our design, what it represents, how it meets their policies and standards and importantly, will confirm the actual location on the Arboretum estate where the memorial will stand. We are confident, with Mark’s guidance, the application will be well received, and the memorial will be granted a prime location, standing proud in the open, representing our pride and visibility, no longer hiding in the shadows.
While we are not yet able to confirm the date of a dedication ceremony for the memorial, we do expect it to take place in the latter half of October in time for the Remembrance season. We will of course confirm dates and arrangements as soon as possible to enable as many of you as are able to attend this significant event. This is very much the intention of Lord Etherton’s recommendation for as many veterans impacted by the ban as possible to be present at the dedication. The dedication ceremony itself is being arranged by the Cabinet Office, but your memorial project team will be on the committee.
Before we get to that point though we are likely to be organising a small visit to the artists’ studios in Kings Lynn. This will be open to a limited number of veterans and serving personnel local to the region, to meet the artists and local media as part of the documentation of the project. Lord Etherton himself will be present, wanting to meet the artists and veterans to hear their opinions of what is being delivered. We expect this visit to happen late April, early May, so look out for an invitation to apply.
Roly Woods Memorial Officer & Kevin Bazeley Deputy Memorial Officer, Fighting With Pride
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