Weymouth Town Council to host US Memorial Day Service
A ceremony to mark US Memorial Day will be hosted by the Mayor of Weymouth, Cllr Jon Orrell this coming Bank Holiday on Monday 27th May.
Members of the public are welcome to attend this short wreath laying service at 11am at the US Memorial on the seafront.
Cllr Jon Orrell, Mayor of Weymouth, said, “I feel delighted to host this special event which recognises the many thousands of US personnel who left Weymouth harbour for D-Day in 1944.
“This year’s celebration is particularly poignant as it occurs just ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. This milestone anniversary provides us with an important opportunity to reflect on the immense courage and determination displayed by the troops who participated in the Normandy landings.”
The US Memorial is located on the Promenade adjacent to the Royal Hotel and was unveiled on 3 December 1947. It was rededicated in June 1999 and further renovation work was carried out in 2012 by local stonemasons.
The Council is honoured to shine a light on the remembrance memorials along Weymouth Promenade throughout the year, celebrating the brave individuals who served and sacrificed during times of war. At the US Memorial, there is a heartwarming message attached to a photo of a couple who married just before the US soldier went off to France and was injured on Omaha Beach. (See attached.)
It shows the happy couple Weymouth cinema usherette Doris Mockridge and Private Ernest Webster of the United States 1st Infantry Division. This touching story encapsulates the personal sacrifices and enduring love that characterized this period.
In addition to this poignant discovery, last year we installed an interpretation board at the steps in Greenhill Gardens to remember the US soldiers bound for the frontline during WWII. The Rangers Way board honours the 225 brave individuals who descended these steps in 1944, as they marched towards Weymouth Pavilion before their departure for Normandy, France.
The project was started by Weymouth resident Tim Goodwin with funding and support from the Friends of Greenhill Gardens and Weymouth Town Council. It serves as a powerful reminder of their courage and the critical role they played in our history. For more details, visit the website.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
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