The Island is to receive a new war memorial, Works and Engineering Derrick Burgess announced today.

The news comes just two days before the annual Remembrance Day holiday, which marks the anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The proposed memorial will be built on the grounds of the Cabinet Office, near the corner of Front and Court Streets, just east of the Cenotaph.

According to Mr. Burgess, the new memorial will honour Bermudians that served here and abroad, in either the First or Second world war.

Speaking at a press conference Mr. Burgess said: “It is fitting that we remember and pay tribute to all men and women of Bermuda who served in the world wars. I emphasise all, as too often the service of individuals who did not travel overseas, but who protected our shores locally, remained unrecognised and seemingly unappreciated.

“That is a regrettable and altogether unacceptable circumstance that this Government has sought to remedy, for we believe that every man and woman who served this country during the great wars, whether on the foreign front or here, in Bermuda, is deserving of recognition and the Island’s gratitude.”

Mr. Burgess said the memorial will feature five marble plaques engraved with the names of almost 2000 Bermudians who served during the First or Second world war.

For the full story see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.