STUDENTS HONOURED FOR SERVICE GRAVE CLEAN UP
Hardworking students from City of Wolverhampton College are celebrating a job well done after locating and restoring the graves of local war heroes across Wolverhampton.
More than 70 students on a range of Public Service courses were personally thanked by Major Sylvia Parkin, deputy lieutenant of the West Midlands at a special presentation ceremony at the college’s Wellington Road campus on April 6.
Under the guidance of personnel from 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment, the students spent a week cleaning headstones and removing weeds from the graves of service men and women at Bilston Cemetery, Merridale Cemetery, St John’s Church and St Michael and All Angels Church burial ground in Tettenhall.
The project, named Exercise Eagle Learner, formed part of the students’ course, but also aimed to broaden their understanding of the impact of war and sacrifice with a local perspective.
Major SylviaParkin said: “I have been most impressed by the work done by the students – it has been a superb project and I congratulate all of them on what they have achieved.”
Lecturer Richard Jones said: “Cleaning more than 300 graves in just three days is no mean feat, and the students should be very proud of all they have achieved.
“Not only have they had the chance to work with the army and gain an insight into their way of doing things, the life skills these students have gained over the last three days can be applied to any industry or profession they chose to go into.
The activity forms part of the Armed Forces Community Covenant, a pledge of mutual support between the city and its Armed Forces community. The Covenant aims to encourage all citizens to support the local Armed Forces community and make it easier for Service personnel, families and veterans to access the help and support they need. For further information click here.
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