More than 800 members of the security forces who died in Northern Ireland during the Troubles have been honoured at the unveiling of a new memorial.
Around 400 relatives, friends and former comrades of those killed attended a ceremony to dedicate The Ulster Ash Grove, at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire.
Representatives from the Government, Army, Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Prison Service joined senior figures from the province's four main churches for the service in memory of those who died between 1969 and 2001.
Wreaths were laid and 33 white doves, one to represent each year of the Troubles, were released.
The grove comprises 719 trees, planted by the Trustees of the Arboretum to represent each serving member of the armed forces killed during the upheaval.
A further 60 trees have been planted in memory of former Ulster Defence Regiment servicemen killed, while the PSNI remembered each of the 38 sub-divisions of the former Royal Ulster Constabulary with a tree.
The Northern Ireland Prison Service planted 29 trees, one for each prison officer killed by terrorists.
The act of dedication was led jointly by members of the Church of Ireland, the Roman Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church and Methodist Church.
Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Robin Eames said: "The fragile plant of peace is beginning to appear.
The memorial comprises a three metre tall central pillar of Mourne granite and is surrounded by six boulders from the six counties in Northern Ireland. The stones are arranged to symbolise a map of the province and seats are provided for visitors.
PA