A SMALL group of Warrington residents placed lighted candles at the War Memorial at Bridge Foot on Christmas Eve.
They included the Mayor, Cllr Karen Mundry, her consort Jason Mundry and her husband, Cllr Hans Mundrt.
This tradition originated three years ago in The Netherlands, where this year, a candle was placed at every single grave in Oosterbeek Military War Cemetery in Arnhem.
Further afield in The Netherlands more than 300 cemeteries also participated and a worldwide map was lit up to mark where candles were lit all over the world.
Margaret Shaw, who started the tradition in Warrington with close friend Maureen Smith said: “In September 1944, My Dad, lifelong resident Frank Collopy served with 133 para field ambulance during Operation Market Garden – the battle for the bridge too far at Arnhem.
“Although Dad survived the battle, thousands of his 1st Airborne Division comrades didn’t and many of them lie in Oosterbeek Cemetery.
“Every September we go back to Arnhem for the week long commemorations dedicated to those heroes and when Dad died in 2007, his ashes were interred alongside many of his friends.
“It is therefore comforting to know, that on Christmas Eve, a candle is placed on his final resting place,”.
Candles placed at Bridge Foot War Memorial
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