Memorial Service for Commonwealth Servicemen and Women

The 2024 Service took place on Saturday, November 2, at Alexandra Gardens, Cardiff and all kinds of veterans who spent time in the army from Wales attended to show their respects. NIWA was represented by our Director, Dr Sola Okhiria

"It's important for me that their sacrifices and their contribution will never be forgotten. So it is a marker and it is a way of remembering and it is also a way of ensuring that the young generation is aware of the contributions of their ancestors and their legacy will continue forever. "

There were speeches and a number of people including our NIWA Director Dr Sola Okhiria who came to place poppy wreaths in front of the monument installed in 2019, commemorating the contribution of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority service personnel who served during the First and Second World Wars. And one key message being pushed was the significance of the event to connect people’s stories from the war with younger generations.

Uzo Iwobi, chief executive of Race Council Cymru, said: "It's so important that young people hear about the stories from people from ethnic minority backgrounds who lost their lives in the war, and sacrificed so much for the freedom that we take for granted.