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Memorial sickener


I READ with disgust about plans to move yet another Durham war memorial – this time in Sacriston in favour of a Tesco convenience store (Echo, some editions, March 12).

When are these so-called planners, groups and developers going to realise that these sites were chosen by our ancestors; they are specific and perpetual and in many cases they are as close a thing to a grave that the relatives had.

Indeed, it was common practice for mourning relatives to deposit personal items and mementos in the foundations of many of our memorials. The monuments and their foundations were, and still are, war graves to those buried or lost in foreign lands.

They were erected at their original sites by those who had been affected most. None of us today have the right to move them, certainly not a supermarket chain.

It really does sicken me that the thoughts and feelings of those who gave their all are totally ignored by people who owe their all.

Kevin Stock, Sherburn Village, Durham.

Comments(4)

dolanp1 says...
6:04pm Tue 16 Mar 10

Thats the trouble with modern councillors and council officers, they have no respect for anyone and watching how they act they have no respect for one another either.

*shakes head slowly* says...
7:25pm Tue 16 Mar 10

It's a war memorial - unless the war it's commemorating actually happened in the very place it stands, why can it not be moved? How is that in any way disrespectful?
Wind your neck back in and stop using the words "so-called" because that identifies a certain type of contributor!!! LOL@"so-called" and "sickened"!!!!

john84 says...
2:38pm Fri 19 Mar 10

It's a war memorial - unless the war it's commemorating actually happened in the very place it stands, why can it not be moved? How is that in any way disrespectful……â
€¦â€¦is this comment for real or a wind up!
It’s hardly surprising you see nothing disrespectful in ripping up a monument to our war dead, your type usually show more passion for things like big brother or x factor.
The memorial in question at Sacriston is not, as you put it, commemorating a war; it is commemorating the men and boys of Sacriston Village that lost their lives in one.
As the letter said, the site that the memorial now stands was chosen by the people of Sacriston; what now gives the right for planning officers, of the area planning committee of Labour-run Durham County Council to act against the wishes of a village’s inhabitants.
The Echo, some editions, March 12 states there were 18 objectors, including the parish council and Durham North Labour MP Kevan Jones whose constituency office is in Sacriston. There was also a 330-name petition against the scheme of removing the memorial and building the Tesco convenience store; there were eight letters of support for the new store!
It should be you that’s actually winding your neck in on this subject; it’s obviously something you know nothing about. Your comments are disrespectful towards Sacriston’s’ war dead and as a person who has actually helped getting a village memorial erected, I find your vomit unfit for further feedback.

John Burrell. Durham.

*shakes head slowly* says...
6:20pm Sun 21 Mar 10

Were you biting yourself while you wrote that? You sound rather disturbed.
A memorial is just that- a reminder. There is no reason it HAS to stand where it is and moving a memorial is NOT disrespecting anyone, unlike your ghastly self-serving reply. (I doubt very much that the dead of any village would want you as their spokesperson with your horrid attitude.)
There are no bodies underneath the memorial, the site itself is not of historical interest and its function can be served anywhere people pass by to see it. Get off your high horse, before you burst a blood-vessel, and join reality for a moment.
There. That's better.
What size Tesco will it be?


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