Service to remember our wartime heroes (From York Press)

Allied Air Forces Memorial Day service to remember wartime heroes

9:27am Friday 7th September 2012 in News By Nadia Jefferson-Brown, nadia.jefferson-brown@thepress.co.uk

THE sacrifice made by servicemen during the Second World War will be remembered at a poignant event this weekend.

Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York , will be taking a major role in the Allied Air Forces Memorial Day at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, on Sunday.

He became an honorary vice president of the museum last year, along with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, and former BBC newsreader Jan Leeming. It will be the first time that they will all be at the museum together.

Dr Sentamu said: “It will be wonderful to be back at Elvington to remember the important contribution and sacrifice made by Allied Air Forces during the Second World War.

“We are reminded of the heroic personal struggles of those who worked together to combat evil during this time in our history. We are in their debt. It is right that our service on Sunday will remember the brave and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Sir Stephen, accompanied by the Deputy Lieutenant, North Yorkshire, Air Commodore William Gambold, will jointly take the salute from the Parade of veteran service personnel and Air Training Corps Cadets that precedes the service.

Standards will be paraded, including the National Standard of the Royal Air Force Association, to create a colourful procession for guests and visitors.

Visitors will also be welcome to attend the drumhead service in the main display hangar, set against the imposing backdrop of the unique Halifax bomber.

Further spectacle will be afforded by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which is supporting the ceremony with two separate sorties, with a Supermarine Spitfire fighter and the iconic Avro Lancaster bomber. This will accompany the closing part of the day, with the evening hymn and lowering of the standards.