A campaign has been launched to introduce a new national holiday to celebrate Sir William Wallace.
Hundreds of people have signed a petition to adopt August 23 as National Wallace Day.
The date marks the anniversary of Wallace’s death at Smithfield in London on August 23, 1305. The freedom fighter was hung, drawn and quartered in an attempt to destroy his life and legacy.
The campaign is led by the Society of John De Graeme, named after the knight who died in 1298 fighting alongside Wallace, and other historic heroes.
It calls on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her cabinet ministers for tourism, culture and the economy to declare “Wallace Day” as a national holiday. Organiser David Reid said he hopes more than 100,000 people will sign the online petition.
He said: “Sir William Wallace is Scotland’s national patriot, who sacrificed everything, yet there is no official day to celebrate this great hero.
“We want that to change and an official day noted as Wallace Day.”
Gary Stewart, convener of the Society of William Wallace, added: “Scotland should have an official day to celebrate its national hero.”
