Coventry to hold purple poppy service to remember fallen serving animals
COVENTRY will remember the animals lost to war on Sunday with the laying of a wreath of purple poppies.
The special service will get under way at 2.30pm at the War Memorial Park Peace Garden and will see Coun John McNicholas, who laid the city’s first purple poppies as Lord Mayor last year, joined by animal rights and welfare groups.
The purple poppy was introduced in 2006 by the charity Animal Aid, which felt our four-legged friends who died in war, mostly horses and dogs, should also not be forgotten.
The appeal has since been adopted by the Murphy’s Army charity, which has since raised thousands of pounds for causes including K9 Heroes, The Horse Trust, Smokey Paws, Household Cavalry Foundation, Bravo Working Dog Rescue and Fireside K9.
Coun McNicholas said: “This year, as every year, I will be proudly wearing my red poppy to remember all the brave service personnel who have given their lives to protect us, and I will be wearing my purple one alongside to remember our faithful animals of all descriptions that have served in conflicts around the globe, and continue to do so.
“They are a part of our Armed Forces, and their love and loyalty deserve recognition.
“Last year’s event was very well supported, and this year I look forward to seeing even more people and their pets at the service to help our city pay tribute and remember.”
Visit theyalsoserved.org to buy purple poppies from the Murphy’s Army charity.
Animal rights activists hold ceremony at National War Memorial for animals lost in war
Animal rights activists held a memorial ceremony for animals lost in war at the National War Memorial on Sunday, distributing purple poppies in their honour.
Groups such as the Animal Alliance of Canada, which helped organize the memorial ceremony, say they are fighting against the modern-day use of animals in live training and experiments, and condemn their use in wars throughout the world. The purple poppy is meant to mirror the red poppies worn in memory of people who served in war.
Not far from the National War Memorial, in the centre of Confederation Park, there is a smaller memorial honouring the animal casualties of war. A dog sits patiently at its base, tongue permanently stuck out and set in stone. Hoof marks and paw prints are etched into the concrete around the memorial.
So, why did Animal Protection Party member Kimberly LaMontagne hold Sunday’s ceremony for fallen animals half a kilometre away at the National War Memorial?
“I decided to host the memorial service here because although there is a memorial to the fallen pets of war, it does not do justice to the millions of animal victims incurred. I wanted to equate the lives of these animals with the human veterans.”
LaMontagne emphasizes how, in Confederation Park, the South African war memorial overshadows the animal one, setting the dog’s statue at the feet of a soldier with his helmet outstretched.
LaMontagne also states that the animals were victims, not heroes.
“They did not sacrifice their lives for their country, they had no say in the matter. And those who did survive the horrors of war were often discarded on the battlefield after being injured. We are here to honour these animals, and to help prevent more from falling in their wake.”
The animal protection cause has close ties with veganism and some people who were at the service had been in the city for the previous day’s International Vegan Film Festival. Among these was activist Peter McQueen from Toronto.
“When I heard at the film festival that Kimberly was hosting this event, my wife and I knew we had to come here to show our support.
“I really feel as though we need to treat animal veterans as well as our human veterans, finding them placements once they are no longer in service, so they are not just abandoned after they have served their purpose.”
Regards Mark
Coventry to hold purple poppy service to remember fallen serving animals – The Coventry Observer
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Animal rights activists hold ceremony at National War Memorial for animals lost in war (msn.com)
In London, England; there is a beautiful memorial tribute to remember animals that have fallen in war:
The Animals In War Memorial
A major monument designed for London.
This monument is a powerful and moving tribute to all the animals that served, suffered and died alongside the British, Commonwealth and Allied forces in the wars and conflicts of the 20th century.
The trustees of The Animals in War Memorial Fund obtained planning consent from Westminster City Council to erect the memorial at Brook Gate, Park Lane, (map here) on the edge of Hyde Park. It was unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal in November 2004, the 90th anniversary of the start of World War I.
See real animals in war photos here:
World Animals Voice 