German youngsters tending war graves

Spotlight on German war grave links

The close ties that have been forged between youngsters from Germany and Staffordshire County Council's Youth Service were under the spotlight during a public presentation.

Each year a party of youngsters from the city of Bremen travel to the county to tend memorials at Cannock Chase War Cemetery.

The cemetery is the last resting place of the vast majority of the 5,000 German servicemen who died in Britain during the two world wars. They include former prisoners of war and downed airmen.

Isa Nolle and Mattias Kook of the German War Graves Commission (Volksbund) talked about the links and the work carried out in the Oak Room, County Buildings, Stafford.

Robert Simpson, the County's Cabinet Member for Children and Lifelong Learning said: "It is always a pleasure to welcome our friends from Bremen. They have given young people in Staffordshire such rich experiences, especially those who probably would never have had the chance. I am sure that the value of these work-camps will continue for many years to come. It is peace education in action."

Hugh Disley, the County Council's Principal Youth Worker added: "The German War Graves Commission and Bremen in particular has given hundreds of Staffordshire young people the opportunity and challenge to come out of their environment and explore the concepts of understanding, respect, reconciliation and peace.

"This is not just another work-camp. Young People's lives change, long-term friendships are forged and young people see at first hand the price of war and its impact on individual families.

"Every gravestone has a story to tell and long may the Bremen and Staffordshire camps continue to enable young people to experience how important it is to not to forget these stories."

Page Last Modified: 30/01/2007 16:05:15

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