A beacon will be lit at the top of St Michael’s Church on Friday 8th May as Stone joins the nation-wide commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.
The beacon will be lit at 9.32pm by town mayor Cllr Cathy Collier, before which a member of Stone Town Band will play the general salute and a tribute will be read by a veteran of the Second World War. The tribute reads:
Let us remember those who gave their lives at home and abroad, whose sacrifice enables us to enjoy the peace we have today
Let us remember those who came home wounded, physically and mentally, and the friends and family who cared for them
Let us remember those who returned to restore their relationships and rebuild their working lives after years of conflict and turmoil
Let us remember the families that lost husbands, wives, sons, daughters and sweethearts
Let us remember the servicemen and women of other nationalities and faiths – from Commonwealth and Allied countries – who fought, suffered and died during six years of war
Let us remember those in reserved occupations and the brave people who kept us safe on the home front – the doctors and nurses who cared for the wounded, the men and women who toiled in the fields, those who worked in the factories and the air-raid wardens, police officers, firemen, ambulance drivers and the young people of the Scouts and Guides who all played such a vital role in the war effort at home.
The beacon will be visible across the town. The last time it was lit in Stone was on 4th June 2012 to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. You can see lots of photos from that event HERE.
