The George Cross Island Association held a service of Remembrance and Re-dedication at the Church of All Hallows in Tower Place, London, on the second anniversary of the dedication of the National Malta Memorial which was unveiled in 2005 by President of Malta Edward Fenech Adami.

The ecumenical ceremony was organised by the GCIA’s South East Branch under the direction of the chairman Julia Gaw and conducted by Fr Bertrand Olivier from All Hallows and Fr Victor Camilleri, OFM, from St Boniface church.

The ceremony was attended by members of the GCIA, Maltese associations in the United Kingdom, Mrs Ruby Scerri, widow of former High Commissioner Arthur Scerri, his successor Mr Francis Cassar, High Commissioner Dr Michael Refalo and Mrs Blanche Refalo.

In a short address to the congregation, Dr Refalo reminded everyone present they had not gathered “to

glorify war and exalt victory but to confirm our unswerving commitment to democracy and freedom. The men and women aboard ‘the unsinkable aircraft carrier’, Churchill’s name for Malta in World War II, saved my country, saved Britain, Europe and the free world from totalitarianism.”

Dr Refalo recalled that King George VI had publicly recognised the courage and fortitude of the Maltese

people by awarding them the George Cross. “To this day, our national flag bears the George Cross with pride, as a constant reminder to the people of Malta and of the wider world that democracy and freedom do not come easy. Let us therefore collect our thoughts for a few minutes in homage to the men and women who sacrificed and gave their all, for the defence of Malta and paved the way to lasting peace in Europe.”