Ayr to host Field of Heroes exhibition to mark VE Day anniversary
The exhibition will comprise over 100 life-size silhouettes of serving personnel from the Navy, Army and Air Force, and is derived from the successful 'Standing with Giants exhibition' that took place in France last year in honour of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Standing with Giants featured almost 1,500 silhouettes erected to overlook Gold Beach in Normandy. The exhibition received wide acclaim for its emotional depth and for serving as a reminder of the sacrifices made by 'the greatest generation'.
The Ayr exhibition will see a number of similar silhouettes, produced in conjunction with the Standing With Giants artist Dan Barton and made out of recycled advertising hoardings, erected in Scotland for the first time, but with an added interactive educational feature: each silhouette will tell the real-life story of a local individual who gave their life for the war effort.
Terry Wright, one of the VE80 South Ayrshire team who organised the exhibition (Image: VE80 South Ayrshire) Visitors will have the opportunity to scan a QR code on their phones which will take them to a short video explaining the story of the associated individual's service and sacrifice.
Each story is told in the first person and has been voiced by someone the same age as the individual commemorated.
"We only enjoy the freedoms we have today because of the sacrifice of these men and women 80 years ago, so it is really important for us to take the time and effort to properly mark this anniversary," said Ken Nairn, local historian and leader of VE 80 South Ayrshire, which has organised the exhibition.
"By listening to the individual stories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, visitors will hopefully leave with a deeper emotional connection to that generation and what they did for us."
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