THE DEDICATION OF THE ADU-NI MEMORIAL IS TO TAKE PLACE ON 1st AUGUST 2009 (the 2nd Anniversary of the unit’s closure), at the National Memorial Arboretum, Croxall Road, Alrewas, Staffordshire
AN INVITATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO QPD’S TO PARADE WITH THE UNIT. LET US PROVIDE A SUPPORT FLIGHT FOR OUR ‘BROTHERS’ OF THE DOG HANDLERS FAMILY ON THIS OCCASION AS THEY REMEMBER THOSE WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE.
If you are willing to attend this parade then please e-mail me in order that I can co-ordinate numbers with the organisers.
2 p.m: Assembly of ADU NI Association Members near to main entrance. Led by Pipers and Standard Bearers the Members will march to the memorial site in Ulster Grove. Minimum requirement for participation in the march will be the wearing of the Association Tie along with your own regimental blazer/suit/smart jacket and beret plus optional wearing of medals. (Obviously, if you just want to attend without taking part in this small march down to the memorial, then please dress as you wish).
Stuart Walker will conduct the Service of Dedication which will include a reading by Steve Casey. The Last Post will be played, flags lowered, and Rob Shevill will lay the main wreath at the new memorial - salute by all ADU NI members. During the playing of Elgar's 'Nimrod', a family member representing each man named on the new memorial will be escorted by an ADU NI member (hopefully from the same regiment) to lay an individual wreath for their relative. (It was felt that some of these relatives may now be quite frail and a helping hand may be required.)
After each wreath laying, the ADU NI escort will salute. During the finale of 'Nimrod' all ADU NI members will be called to salute and flags raised ...... after which ADU NI will be given 'stand at ease, stand easy'. The salute at the end of 'Nimrod' may or may not be the final one! We are trying to get a Royal V.I.P. to attend on 1st August, timed to arrive at 3 o'clock sharp. If we are successful he/she/it will take the very last Salute ADU NI will ever give and I can tell you, Gentlemen, if we can get this V.I.P. it will be jaw dropping .... I promise you. DON'T ASK, I WON'T TELL!!!
After the ceremony each ADU NI Family Escort will present their family with a special commemorative coin and framed certificate. The coins have been especially commissioned and we have ordered just 150. Every ADU NI member attending on Dedication Day will also be presented with the coin and certificate (unframed). If unable to attend, ADU NI members who have contributed to this fund will be sent these items through the post free of charge. If there are any coins left they may be made available for purchase at a later date.
These details are a 'draft' of the arrangements and the finer details of the day may change - but not day, date and time. THIS IS TO BE YOUR DAY - THE DOG HANDLERS' DAY ..... VERY FEW OF YOU WERE INFORMED OF, OR ABLE TO ATTEND, THE OFFICIAL CLOSURE OF ADU NI IN 2007 .... THIS DAY IS THE 2nd ANNIVERSARY OF THAT CLOSURE .... AND THE FINAL CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF ADU NI FOR YOU ALL.
We really hope that you are going to be able to be there. We are endeavouring to contact the families/loved ones of all those mentioned on the new memorial stone and for them to be able to attend on the day - in fact this is our main priority. If you have any information on the location of the families of Malcolm Orton, Terry O'Neill and Derek Hayes, we would be most grateful to hear from you. We will, of course, be carrying out a 'recci' to find a suitable pub for a few beers after the event. Should you want lunch before the event, the NMA have a very good licensed restaurant and bar serving everything from sandwiches and cakes to full home-made type meals (at reasonable prices) - we can recommend this as we have used it ourselves in the past. We will also be trying to find a list of possible B & B accommodation for those of you with a considerable journey to make. More news on that a little later. We're sure we will all have a good day and we are very much looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible there on the day .... along with your families. Full details at: http://www.armydogunit-ni.co.uk/DedicationDay.htm
PM(RAF) will be the senior officer attending and will be laying a wreath.