"It's so important" - Coventry pupils commemorate D-Day
Pupils from Cardinal Newman Catholic School are remembering D-Day on the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings
Pupils from a school in Coventry are proving that young people will not forget the events of D-Day, as they mark take part in commemorations to mark 80 years since the Normandy landings.
Dennis Davison, a D-Day veteran, made regular visits to Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Coventry before he passed away in 2019 at the age of 96, as he tried to spread a message of peace.
When asked about the idea that young people have lost interest in events like D-Day, Year 12 pupil Patrick said: "I completely disagree, in fact I would argue the opposite - it's so important we understand the sacrifices made in the past, so we don't repeat the mistakes of the past - that's what Dennis would've wanted.
"He always promoted peace and developing an understanding of the need for peace, and I think it's important now especially in light of recent events in Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflict that we continue to promote peace as the next generation."
Dennis set up a charity called Normandy UK which connect veterans and young people to pass on messages from their experiences, and set up the Peace Orchard in Coundon Park in Coventry as a place to reflect on past conflict and the need for peace.
Year 7 student Isla said: "Peace is important in our everyday lives, we should always promote peace in everything we do, we should never be hurtful or violent.
"It's a really interesting part of history, and we couldn't do what we do now and have the freedoms we have now without those D-Day landings and those heroic soldiers."
Year 12 pupil Sasha added: "We need to remember those who did fight for us, and remember their sacrifice for our country, and to share that message for peace so we never take it for granted."
Students from the school are taking part in a 'peace picnic' at the Peace Orchard, attended by the Lord Mayor of Coventry, to remember the sacrifice made on D-Day and remember Dennis Davison's message for peace.
Events will be held across Warwickshire to commemorate D-Day, including a D-Day proclamation read by Warwick's Town Crier, Michael Reddy at 8am at the Shire Hall, and the lighting of the beacon at 9:15pm at Newbold Comyn.
Full details can be found here.
Schools throughout the district will be reading the ‘D-Day Heroes’ poem at 11am, which tells the story of the planning and execution of the landings and honours those that took part.
The Leamington branch of the Royal British Legion will be holding a short service at the War Memorial on Euston Place at 11am.
At 9.15pm, the district will join the nation in lighting the beacon at Newbold Comyn as The International Tribute is read by the Chairman of Warwick District Council.
The reading of the Proclamation at 8am and the lighting of the beacon at Newbold Comyn 9.15pm will both be live streamed on Warwick District Council’s Facebook page.
From 7.30pm to 9.30pm, Kenilworth Town Council will be hosting a commemorative event at Kenilworth Castle featuring a ringing of local church bells, a performance by local school choirs, a piper and the lighting of a beacon in one of the Castle’s towers.