Musing on Memorial Weekend
On being a descendant of the man who lost America — and why Memorial Day still moves me deeply
As we go into Memorial Weekend I am remembering with such respect and love for military personnel who died while serving in US armed forces as well as in areas of conflict all around the world, past and present.
Memorial Weekend has a particular significance to me because I am the great, great, great, great, great granddaughter of General Lord Cornwallis.
Last month I was asked as a special guest at Fort Belvoir to speak about my family links to the American Revolutionary War. Paul Morando and his team laid on a sensational evening to celebrate General Washington’s battle tent, watch and pistols bring united with the Yorktown Surrender Sword that belonged to my forbear, General Cornwallis.
I was so humbled to be presented with the 250th commemorative medal of America 250, from the Historical Army Foundation, whose values reflect my own, ‘preserve the heritage, educate the future, engage, inspire and honour’.
I look forward to a quiet Memorial Weekend of hope and reconciliation throughout the world.
If you would like to read the piece on my family connections to the American Revolutionary War, please take a look at this flipbook
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