Families looked on proudly as the names of Fife soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice joined those of fallen comrades.
The names of Fifers who have died in conflicts around the world since the end of the Second World War now join those who died in earlier wars as they have been inscribed on to an extension at Kirkcaldy war memorial.
Among the first to be etched on the memorial are the names of Corporal Sean Binnie and Private Kevin McHale from Lochgelly who died in a road accident in North Babil in 2004. The names of other soldiers who died in Northern Ireland, Malaya and Palestine are also included as Fife paid tribute to their lost young men.
Under sunny autumn skies on Saturday, the newly extended ware memorial was unveiled at a touching ceremony attended by families and loved ones.
They included Corporal Binnie’s family who came to remember their son and husband who was only 22 when he was killed by a single gunshot in Helmand Province in Afghanistan during a fight with insurgents in May 2009.
Although born in Belfast, Cpl Binnie, the son of Janette and Allan and husband of Amanda, was raised in the Fife town. In lasting tribute, their names are on a new bronze plaque at the extension.
Other work, including stone cleaning and painting of handrails, has also been carried out to improve the existing site.
Attending the ceremony, which was led by the Rev Bryan Tomlinson, was Fife Provost Frances Melville, Lord Lieutenant of Fife Margaret Dean, Douglas Hamill who is the Depute Clerk for the Presbytery of Kirkcaldy, Kirkcaldy area committee chair Councillor Alice Soper and other councillors from the Kirkcaldy area committee.
Representatives from the Royal British Legion Scotland, the armed forces, including The Black Watch, members of local churches and those involved in the project also attended the public service.
Before the service Councillor Alice Soper, who initiated the project was pleased with the high quality of the work, which she described as a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives in conflicts across the world.
“I felt it was very important to give the local community, servicemen past and present and the families of those who have been lost, the opportunity to share this service and pay tribute to those who have given their lives in conflict,” she added.
That sentiment was echoed by Reg Briers, who is the Fife Area chairman and National Executive Committee member for the Royal British Legion Scotland who said a wealth of work had been carried out to ensure the extended memorial was a fitting tribute.