Attention! - Dedicate a Stone for Forces Footpath

Military personnel past and present are set to be honoured as plans progress for a special new Veterans' Walk in South Tyneside.

South Tyneside Council is supporting the National Veterans' Walk charity to create the new feature in North Marine Park in South Shields. It will be made up of personalised stones bearing the names, regiment and years of service of both serving and former members of the armed forces.

Orders are now being taken for the granite plaques, which can be bought by service men and women themselves or by their loved ones as a gift or tribute to others as A Lasting Tribute to Proud Service.

The stones are priced at £299 each, available to order through the National Veterans' Walk website at www.nationalveteranswalk.co.uk The names of those dedicated are also added to the National Veterans' Walk Roll of Honour.

Councillor Paul Dean, Chairman of South Tyneside's Armed Forces Forum, said: "We are thrilled to being working with the National Veterans' Walk charity on this special project whereby people can dedicate a granite stone to forces personnel.

"It will be a wonderful tribute, not only to those servicemen and women who have passed away, but to military personnel who continue to sacrifice so much for their country.

"The beautiful, personalised stones that will make up this new footpath will act as a permanent reminder of their proud service for future generations to see and reflect. It's an honour to be supporting the charity to create this special addition in North Marine Park, and only feet away from our beloved Tommy sculpture."

Once a batch of engraved stones are processed, and subject to planning permission, the stones will be laid in phases.

The new pathway follows a similar tribute in Sunderland's Mowbray Park - the first of its kind in the UK - in a project set up by the family of Private Nathan Cuthbertson, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2008, and city businessman Rob Deverson.

Rob, of the National Veterans Walk Charity, said: "We are delighted to be launching this new project for residents of South Tyneside so they can create their own personal tributes for themselves, family members and friends.

"The thing we really want people to understand is that this is for anyone who is serving, has served or even passed away, and we can offer a free Certificate of Authenticity on request for individuals & families to print and keep at home.

"South Tyneside has a proud military and marine tradition, and we want the community to engage with this project to create the Lasting Tribute To Proud Service. All surpluses generated will be returned to appropriate causes within the South Tyneside Armed Forces/Merchant Navy community."

For further information about the project as well as wider support for the Armed Forces community in South Tyneside, visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/armedforces