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 PRESIDING OFFICER, FIRST MINISTER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
AS CHAIR OF THE LANCASTRIA ASSOCIATION OF SCOTLAND I AM DELIGHTED AND GREATLY HONOURED TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS HISTORIC CEREMONY. THIS IS TRULY A WONDERFUL DAY.
SINCE THE INAUGURAL AGM OF THE LANCASTRIA ASSOCIATION OF SCOTLAND ON THE 30TH OF SEPTEMBER 2006 WE HAVE ACHIEVED MORE THAN EVEN THE MOST OPTIMISTIC AMONG US EXPECTED.
IN JUNE 2006 WE ARRANGED OUR FIRST MEMORIAL SERVICE IN THE BEAUTIFUL AND WELCOMING CHURCH, ST GEORGE’S WEST HERE IN EDINBURGH. THIS YEAR WE WILL BE MEETING ON SATURDAY FOR OUR THIRD ONE. WE HAVE THE WELL KNOWN EAST FIFE MALE VOICE CHOIR COMING TO SING A PIECE CALLED “ REMEMBRANCE” COMPOSED BY NIGEL EVERETT, THE SON OF A SURVIVOR. ALSO, AS LAST YEAR, JONATHAN FENBY, THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK “THE SINKING OF THE LANCASTRIA” HAS MOST GENEROUSLY AGREED TO RETURN TO DELIVER THE EULOGY. THIS SERVICE HAS CONTINUED TO GROW IN ATTENDANCE GIVING FAMILIES OF SURVIVORS AND VICTIMS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OVER TEA AFTERWARDS AND SHARE THEIR STORIES.
AT THE MOMENT WE ARE WORKING HARD TO RAISE MONEY TO ERECT A LASTING, MAJOR MEMORIAL TO THE LANCASTRIA VICTIMS. THE SITE FOR THE MEMORIAL COULD NOT BE MORE SYMBOLIC. IT IS IN THE GROUNDS OF THE GOLDEN JUBILEE HOSPITAL AT CLYDEBANK WHERE THE BEARDMORE SHIPBUILDING COMPANY WHO DESIGNED AND BUILT THE LANCASTRIA ONCE STOOD.
OUR WEBSITE HAS PROVED AN INVALUABLE HELP TO FAMILIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO ARE STILL SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT RELATIVES INVOLVED IN THE TRAGEDY. MANY OF THESE FAMILIES STILL DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEIR LOVED ONES LIE HAVING SIMPLY BEEN TOLD THEY WERE “LOST AT SEA”
UNTIL NOW THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL, OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE LANCASTRIA DISASTER. TODAY, THANKS TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT THIS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED.
AT THIS POINT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON RECORD THE ASSOCIATIONS VERY GRATEFUL THANKS TO CHRISTINE GRAHAM FOR ALL HER TREMENDOUS HELP AND SUPPORT. HER VERY MOVING SPEECH IN THE CROSS PARTY DEBATE ON THE MEDAL REDUCED THOSE IN THE PUBLIC GALLERY TO TEARS. ALSO, TO STEWART MAXWELL, MINISTER WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR VETERANS ISSUES, FOR HIS GENEROUS AND COURAGEOUS DECISION TO COMMISSION THIS COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL FOR ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE LANCASTRIA TRAGEDY.
OUR HEARTFELT THANKS FOR THIS CAN NEVER BE EXPRESSED IN MERE WORDS. AS I SAID TO THE PETITIONS COMMITTEE “ UNLESS SOMEONE HAS WALKED IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE VICTIMS, SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES THEY CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH OF THE HUMAN TRAGEDY INVOLVED, THE EFFECTS OF WHICH CONTINUE TO THIS DAY “
ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE “ THANK YOU “ FOR RECOGNISING THE SACRIFICE MADE BY THE THOUSANDS WHO DIED ALL THOSE YEARS AGO IN THE GREATEST LOSS OF LIFE IN BRITISH MARITIME HISTORY.
NOW , AT LAST, THEY , WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING, COUNTRY AND THE FREEDOM WE ENJOY TODAY, ARE REMEMBERED WITH THE HONOUR THEY DESERVE.
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