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20
Dec 2021
Stonefall candlelit vigil remembers war dead at Christmas
Harrogate mum Benji Walker runs Candles for Heroes annually to remember at Christmas the sacrifice made by more than 1,000 soldiers buried at the Harrogate cemetery.
About 60 people, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Harrogate, lit candles for more than 1,000 fallen soldiers at Harrogate's Stonefall Cemetary yesterday.
Harrogate mum Benji Walker has been running Candles for Heroes every year since 2018 because she does not want the soldiers to be forgotten.
Yesterday's vigil raised over £300, which will be shared between the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which maintains the site, and armed forces charity Help for Heroes.
Ms Walker said:
“I have a son who serves in the Yorkshire Regiment. It’s important to me. They should always be remembered. Christmas is a special time anyway for family, so it’s a nice time to remember the sacrifice they gave.”
Read more:
- Story of the lone Japanese First World War soldier buried in Ripon
- Wreaths laid at newly restored Harrogate war memorial
Stonefall is one of the largest war grave sites in northern England.
The cemetery was created in 1914 but most burials are airmen who died during the Second World War when bomber command bases were established in Yorkshire. About two-thirds of the dead are Canadian.
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