Families of South Tyneside veterans joined together to witness the unveiling of the first phase of the borough’s Veterans’ Walk in North Marine Park, in South Shields, on Saturday, April 5.
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00:00A lot of councils have shown interest in having almost like their own tribute because that's what
00:05this is. This isn't a memorial, this is a lasting tribute so it's for all service personnel whether
00:11they're with us or passed on or even still serving. And phase one in South Tyneside obviously this is
00:18the start hopefully of something bigger. We started 10 years ago in Sunderland and we've
00:23done 14 phases now we've got nearly 1200 stones down so there's an appetite for this sort of
00:30tribute and we'd like to see it grow through this park up towards the steps at the top end.
00:38I just hope that everyone who's come today is really proud of what they've seen and they'll
00:41spread the word to other members of the horses community and encourage them to become part of
00:49this project going forward. I think yes we remember the fallen every Remembrance Day
00:55and on other days but we never remember the people who actually served and then came back
01:01and that's what this walkway is really all about. Yes we will have tablets for the fallen
01:08but it's mostly for the veterans who returned but we've never ever said thank you.
01:13And I think it's a marvellous idea, it's a national idea. I think Sunderland were before us
01:20but we're very proud to have walked ours today. It's a fabulous walkway right in front of the
01:26sea, a lovely place to walk and to remember and to say thank you and I'm sure once people do know
01:34about this that people will come forward and want to remember their own loved ones. My dad served
01:40he was in the Royal Navy, he came back and lived to a ripe old age and many did but we've never
01:47said thank you. It's just a massive thank you to the people who kept this coming.