National Memorial Arboretum (Alrewas, Staffordshire)

Alrewas, United Kingdom

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The National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, United Kingdom, is a 150-acre site dedicated to honoring those who have served and sacrificed for the country. Conceived in 1988 by Commander David Childs and inspired by Arlington Cemetery in the USA, it was established through a 1994 appeal supported by then Prime Minister John Major.

The site was developed on reclaimed gravel workings, with planting beginning in 1996, and officially opened to the public in 2001 by the Duchess of Kent. It features over 400 memorials, including the prominent Armed Forces Memorial dedicated in 2007, which lists the names of service members who died on duty or due to terrorism since World War II.

The Arboretum serves as a living tribute with trees and gardens that grow alongside the memorials, providing a place of remembrance, learning, and peace. A Remembrance Centre opened in 2016 offers exhibitions and visitor facilities, hosting more than 300,000 visitors annually and a variety of remembrance events throughout the year.