180/2009
Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of
Edinburgh will attend a service of remembrance to be held in St
Paul’s Cathedral at 1100hrs on Friday 9 October 2009 to mark the
end of combat operations in Iraq, the Ministry of Defence confirms today.
The service will be an opportunity to honour the members of the
UK Forces and civil servants who served in Iraq and to remember
those who gave their lives over the six year operation.
Attendance at the service will be by invitation only and the
majority of the congregation will consist of serving and
ex-serving veterans of the conflict, along with their commanders,
the injured and families of those who died.
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said:
“This service will provide an opportunity to remember the
enormous contribution made by some 120,000 members of the UK Armed
Forces and their civilian colleagues who have served in Iraq over
six years. In particular it will be a time to remember the
ultimate sacrifice made by those who died and who contributed to
the greater peace and stability that exists in Iraq today.”
Notes to Editors:
On 15 Jun 09 the Prime Minister announced that a service of
thanksgiving and commemoration would be held this autumn to mark
the end of combat operations in Iraq.
Arrangements for media attendance will be announced nearer the
time. Any enquiries regarding this aspect should be directed to
Victoria Beacon in Defence PR on 0207 218 6162 or DMC-PRStratMktgEventsMgr@mod.uk
Contacts:
Ministry of Defence
NDS.MOD@coi.gsi.gov.uk