Armed Forces contribution marked by commemorative stamp sheet
16 November 2010
Royal Mail has issued a
special commemorative sheet of stamps to recognise the sacrifice
and contribution made by all those who have served in the Armed
Forces and is donating all profits from this to the National
Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, part of The Royal British
Legion family of charities.
The National Memorial Arboretum Commemorative Sheet
"Remembrance" was issued on 28 October and contains ten 1st
Class Poppy stamps, with adjoining labels bearing images of the
National Memorial Arboretum, including the Armed Forces Memorial
which is a tribute to the 16,000 members of UK Armed Forces who
have been killed on duty or as a result of terrorism since the
Second World War.
The Commemorative Sheet is available by mail order, from most main
Post Offices and at the National Memorial Arboretum at a cost of
£13.50, with £9.71 donated to the National Memorial Arboretum
Appeal - established to ensure the Arboretum remains a year round
living and lasting centre of Remembrance.
Major General Patrick Cordingley, chairman of the NMA Appeal, said:
"The Arboretum has become a place in which the Nation comes to
remember and pays tribute to our Armed Forces. However, we must
better honour our heroes and all they stand for by ensuring that we
provide the buildings and facilities for the ever increasing number
of visitors. We are delighted that the funds raised through
this wonderful Royal Mail initiative will help us achieve
this."
HRH Prince William is patron of the £8 million Appeal, which
will fund the building of a Veterans Pavilion to provide a
venue for events and acts of Remembrance for the 200 military
units, ex-Service groups and other interested parties to meet. It
will also enable the Arboretum to expand its work to educate
children nationwide in history, the environment and
citizenship.
Royal Mail spokesperson Philip Parker said: "The contribution of
the Armed Forces is regularly recognised by Royal Mail
stamps. We hope this special commemorative sheet is a
particularly fitting tribute to those who have given their lives
and that the proceeds raised will help support the Arboretum in its
work to provide a national centre of Remembrance."
As well as the Armed Forces Memorial, many of the other memorials
and tributes at the 150-acre Arboretum are featured on the stamp
sheet and accompanying presentation folder.
To purchase a commemorative sheet of stamps please visit the Royal
Mail webshop at www.royalmail.com/remembrance
For more information about the National Memorial Arboretum, visit www.thenma.org.uk
