Minister reflects on policing sacrifice
Date published:
The Justice Minister and Chairman of the RUC George Cross Foundation came together this week to reflect on the sacrifice of police officers ahead of National Police Memorial Day.
Naomi Long and Stephen White visited the RUC George Cross Memorial Garden where they also met members of the Northern Ireland policing family including those who have served in the PSNI, RUC, police support staff, family and volunteers of the Foundation.
The Minister said: National Police Memorial Day gives us an opportunity to remember the sacrifice made by police officers who are at the heart of community safety. They serve without fear or favour and run towards danger when most people walk away. Today, we again remember the sacrifice made by many of those serving our community – and the colleagues and families that are left behind to deal with that void.
We also thank those serving officers who work tirelessly, in dangerous and challenging situations, to ensure Northern Ireland remains one of the safest places in the UK to live.
Stephen White said: “I was pleased to meet the Minister along with some of our volunteers and trustees. We are all dedicated to the Foundation’s aim of ‘marking the sacrifices and honouring the achievements of the RUC’ and the Memorial Garden is a truly wonderful asset to do just that. Every day we host visitors from near and far, but this weekend is especially important as we join with police colleagues and their families from all over the UK to remember officers who lost their lives in the service of others. The Minster’s support is greatly appreciated.”
The Minister was also humbled to meet RUC George Cross volunteers and thanked them for their continued support to the policing family.
Among those she met was Michael Davidson BEM, who served in the RUC and PSNI and whose wife Yvonne will be reading a lesson at the National Police Memorial Service in Coventry today; Michael Wilson QPM, who was shot six times in an ambush and Edwina Tester who is also Chairwoman of the RUC GC Widows’ Association.
The Minister added: I want to thank to the RUC George Cross Foundation volunteers for the work they quietly do. This splendid garden is a living testimony to those officers who have died, ensuring their memory and sacrifice will live on for generations to come. It’s also a place for families and colleagues to quietly reflect and for others to learn more about the significant contribution men and women have made to policing here.
Notes to editors:
- Photo caption 1: L-R Pictured in the ‘Area of Peace’ RUC George Cross Foundation Memorial Garden, located at PSNI headquarters, Belfast is RUC GC Foundation volunteer Michael Wilson QPM; Justice Minister Naomi Long; RUC GC Foundation volunteer Roy Black and RUC GC Foundation Chairman Stephen White OBE where they took time out to reflect on the sacrifice made by police ahead of National Police Memorial Day.
2. Photo caption 2: Ahead of National Police Memorial Day, Justice Minister Naomi Long visited RUC George Cross Foundation Memorial Garden where she met volunteers including Roy Black, Rab Gardiner, Edwina Tester, June Butler, RUC GC Foundation Chairman Stephen White OBE, Michael Davidson BEM and Michael Wilson QPM.
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