Inverness woman places hand-painted Remembrance Day stones at graves
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An Inverness woman has been placing hand-painted Remembrance Day stones at the graves of those who saw active service.
Kelly Anne Mackie (30), of Milton, said she was encouraged by her mum to visit the graves of those who served.
Ms Mackie and her mum Catherine are stalwarts of the annual Remembrance commemoration in Inverness and wanted to do something special this year, as events were cancelled due to the pandemic.
She said: “It was my mum’s idea because every year since I was I was tiny we have always put the wooden crosses down, and we did not know if Poppyscotland would be doing it this year.”
Poppyscotland has been selling crosses at various locations throughout the Highlands.
She continued: “I have seen a lot of people making these hand-painted stones and they have wonderful messages on them such as ‘stay safe’ and ‘be kind’ and I wanted to make some to remember those who had served in war.
“I have done four or five different graves of people that I do not know. I was helped to find them by the Poppyscotland wooden crosses that have been placed on grave sides.
“I hope that any family members of the people are OK with me doing it. We have just found a few of them and they have been placed with thanks.”
She continued: “I went to Findhorn to collect the stones and took them home and I drew on them and painted them. My mum helped me, as did other members of my family.”
Ms Mackie said there were two special stones she made for family members.
The first is for Enya Morrison, Ms Mackie’s grandmother’s sister, who was a regimental sergeant major with the Queen Alexandra Nursing Core in Hong Kong and Germany.
The second is for Ms Mackie’s grandfather James, who served with the Cameron Highlanders until it merged with Seaforth Highlanders in 1961, he then served with the Queens Own Highlanders until 1963. He then served in the Queen’s Own Highlanders Territorial Army until the late 1970s.
She continued: “I am off work at the moment and doing this project has really helped me with my own anxiety and mental health. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me by liking my post on Facebook, and offered me encouragement to do this.”
