Armed Forces visit remembrance site

Nov 2 2012

Members of the Armed Forces have visited Scotland's Field of Remembrance to meet volunteers planting thousands of crosses before its opening on Monday.

A sailor, an airman and a Royal Marine plotted some crosses themselves on a visit to the site by Edinburgh's Scott Monument.

It is the second year the Field of Remembrance has been created by Poppyscotland to pay tribute to the country's war dead and raise money for veterans and their families.

By Remembrance Sunday on November 11, the field will contain 12,000 crosses and will have raised around £250,000.

Kyme Beurskens from the Royal Navy said: "I was very impressed by the hard work of the volunteers who are planting the thousands of crosses carefully by hand.

"It was moving to see the rows of crosses take shape and I am pleased to have planted my own cross as a tribute to servicemen and women, past and present."

The Field of Remembrance is open for public viewing from this Monday until Sunday. An on-site kiosk provides crosses for visitors who want to plant one.

Colin Flinn, head of fundraising at Poppyscotland, said: "We have been overwhelmed once again by the hugely positive response from the Scottish public, which is enabling us to both create this stunning visual tribute to our Armed Forces and raise a great deal of money to provide essential support to Scotland's veterans and our families.

"I must also thank our 75 volunteers who have been working incredibly hard in all weathers to ensure that the crosses are planted in time for the opening on Monday."