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Town salutes its war heroes
THOSE who fell in conflict, and veterans who lived to share their remarkable tales of heroism, were honoured in a three-day celebration in Southend.
Young and old stood shoulder to shoulder to mark the contribution of the armed forces through history in the fight for freedom.
Mayor Gwen Horrigan opened the Veterans' Day festivities, called Southend Salutes, the presentation of badges to former sailors, soldiers, members of the Royal Air Force and Territorial Army.
The badges marked service in the Second World War, the Falklands and more recent conflicts.
The ceremony took place in a marquee decorated as a wartime NAAFI canteen at the shore end of Southend Pier.
Saturday's celebrations included a parade of veterans along the High Street to Pier Hill followed by a service of remembrance, a Spitfire display and a sailpast of boats and hovercraft performed by the RNLI.
There was music and entertainment from performers including the Forces 80 Falklands re-enactment group.
The TA voluntary reservists were honoured for their contributions during wartime with badges awarded by the mayor on Sunday.
Mrs Horrigan said: "It has been a great honour to join these veterans over the past three days.
"They are men that this country can be proud of and who we owe our freedom too.
"It was also pleasing to see the young cadets out on the pier supporting and helping all the veterans."
9:54pm Sunday 29th June 2008
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CommentPosted by: nails, Prittlewell on 10:16pm Sun 29 Jun 08
The schools should be involved in things like this. It may give an idea what this country is all about. What ENGLAND means.
The schools should be involved in things like this. It may give an idea what this country is all about. What ENGLAND means.
Posted by: APR, Benfleet on 10:50pm Sun 29 Jun 08
We should also remember the civilians who died in bombing raids on Southend in WWI & II.
We should also remember the civilians who died in bombing raids on Southend in WWI & II.
Posted by: nick, leigh on 11:39pm Sun 29 Jun 08
the Spitfire display was actually cancelled because it went tech and the owner flew his P.51 Mustang down instead, expect the Echo will publish a photo of the Mustang and call it a Spitfire !!
the Spitfire display was actually cancelled because it went tech and the owner flew his P.51 Mustang down instead, expect the Echo will publish a photo of the Mustang and call it a Spitfire !!
Posted by: patriot, westcliff on 5:18am Mon 30 Jun 08
I attended the friday gathering on the pier as a veteran I was upset that the mayor never mentioned the sacrifices of present day southendians serving today, as its going now some will not be getting badges but boxes.
I attended the friday gathering on the pier as a veteran I was upset that the mayor never mentioned the sacrifices of present day southendians serving today, as its going now some will not be getting badges but boxes.
Posted by: Jill, Westcliff on Sea Royal British Legion on 8:09am Mon 30 Jun 08
[quote][bold]nails[/bold] wrote:
The schools should be involved in things like this. It may give an idea what this country is all about. What ENGLAND means.[/quote] Nails,
I was involved in the "NAAFI Canteen" and when I went to see the ladies from the council a few days before to see what was required, they did actually say to me that next year they were hoping to get the schools involved with it all.
nails wrote:
The schools should be involved in things like this. It may give an idea what this country is all about. What ENGLAND means.
Nails,
I was involved in the "NAAFI Canteen" and when I went to see the ladies from the council a few days before to see what was required, they did actually say to me that next year they were hoping to get the schools involved with it all.
Posted by: Stupid Spud, Thorpe Bay on 10:39am Mon 30 Jun 08
[quote][bold]nick[/bold] wrote:
the Spitfire display was actually cancelled because it went tech and the owner flew his P.51 Mustang down instead, expect the Echo will publish a photo of the Mustang and call it a Spitfire !![/quote] Hate it when they do that a few seconds to check is all it takes.
For the Editor it was P51D North American Mustang "Jumpin' Jacques" (G-SIJJ / 472035)
Big thanks to the pilot for a superb display,
nick wrote:
the Spitfire display was actually cancelled because it went tech and the owner flew his P.51 Mustang down instead, expect the Echo will publish a photo of the Mustang and call it a Spitfire !!
Hate it when they do that a few seconds to check is all it takes.
For the Editor it was P51D North American Mustang "Jumpin' Jacques" (G-SIJJ / 472035)
Big thanks to the pilot for a superb display,
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