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Applaud today's forces too
Willow Drive Burnley Road Halifax
I refer to the article in the Courier describing the Armed Forces and Veterans Day Calderdale event ("Tears and pride as heroes march past", June 29).
As one of the participating veterans, I would like to contribute the following observations.
The article by Joe Shute was accurate enough as to how the hundreds lined the streets to applaud the bravery of the marching troops, and the words of George Sparks RN, 83, who described how proud it made him feel and how it left him with a little tear in his eye.
As for myself I was too young to serve in World War ll (aged nine when it started) but was one of the many veterans who served in one or more of the armed conflicts that have taken place since 1945.
Prior to the march and at the Piece Hall I was honoured to meet and talk to many of the veterans and present day serving soldiers. At the Town Hall I met and spoke to Douglas Smith, 87, the bomb disposal specialist who lost both his legs in a World War Two explosion, and I stood between two other World War Two veterans who actually took part in the D-Day landings.
With these in mind it was impossible not to become emotional when the fantastic crowds watching were so enthusiastic in their applause.
Regretfully, I have two criticisms of Joe Shute's article. His opening words were: "Heroes past and present marched through the streets etc." They didn't. Only the veterans marched in addition the band and the cadets.
I think this was a great pity as it was an ideal opportunity for the people of Halifax to applaud the bravery of today's Armed Forces. Perhaps we should avoid a clash with the Brighouse Gala in future years!
Secondly, the article was headed: "Tears and pride as heroes march past," so why didn't the article include pictures of this, and especially of the veterans who were the predominant part of the parade and were hardly to be seen in the published photographs, which in themselves were fine?
Harry Thompson
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
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