Hundreds gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, for the dedication of a permanent tribute honoring veterans and armed forces personnel who have died by suicide. The newly established Elysium Memorial is the first of its kind in the United Kingdom.
The memorial is intended to serve as a place for reflection for individuals grieving the loss of friends or loved ones to suicide within the military community. It acknowledges the significant number of suicides in recent decades, with over 1,300 military veterans and personnel having taken their lives in the past 30 years.
Edward Mackenzie, co-founder of the Elysium Memorial Foundation, which spearheaded the project, expressed his gratitude for the turnout. "This is why I did it, I did for for the friends, the families, the comrades, those that we've lost to suicide," Mackenzie stated. He added that he was deeply moved by the number of attendees and the positive reception from families.
Mackenzie, a veteran of over 30 years who has lost more than 20 friends to suicide, including his best friend, emphasized the personal significance of seeing these veterans recognized. "There's a lot of families here today that have been thanking me for achieving this memorial so I'm incredibly grateful," he told the BBC.
More than 300 motorcyclists participated in a convoy organized by the community group Wheels for Wishes, riding from Burton-on-Trent to the arboretum on Sunday to mark the occasion. The event saw a significant presence from those directly or indirectly affected by military suicide.