PETERSFIELD’S War Memorial is a reminder of the cost of war set in stone, said the Vicar of Petersfield in a short but poignant service of re-dedication.
The Rev Will Hughes led about 200 people of all ages in the service at the High Street memorial on Tuesday evening.
As the sun dropped, veterans, councillors, led by Petersfield’s Mayor Hilary Ayer, residents and a large contingent of cadets gathered to mark the completion of £11,000-worth of restoration work carried out on the monument, thanks to the town council.
The Combined Cadet Forces from Churcher’s College and The Petersfield School, cadets from the Air Training Corps in Petersfield and the Training Ship Active cadets were represented.
Among the crowd were most members of Petersfield Town Council, other councillors and former East Hampshire MP Michael Mates.
With this year marking the end of the First World War, Mr Hughes spoke of those who gave their lives in service of their country and the importance of remembrance.
After prayers and the act of dedication, the names of the people commemorated on the memorial from both world wars were read out in groups by some of the teenagers attending. The last to be remembered was Marine Richard Hollington, who died after service in Afghanistan.
Senior members of the Petersfield branch of the Royal British Legion, who organised the event, gave the exhortation and the Kohima epitaph with Jordan masters sounding the Last Post followed by reveille as standards were lowered to honour the fallen.
After an act of commitment, the national anthem was sung to bring the event to a close.