Veterans presentation at Flackwell Heath Legion (From Bucks Free Press)

Veterans presentation at Flackwell Heath Legion

8:20pm Sunday 28th June 2009 in

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VETERANS were presented with badges and scroll certificates to mark their time in the services at Flackwell Heath this morning.

The event took place at the Royal British Legion in Common Road, where the awards were awaiting twelve former servicemen.

It is the seventh time the presentation has been held at the branch, and today the occasion was attended by a full Legion hall and several dignitaries.

Ken Ross, Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire and county president of The Royal British Legion, said: “It’s a continuation of the celebration of Armed Forces Day which occurred yesterday.

“I hope people understand how appreciative we should be for what the armed forces have done and continue to do for us, with very little thanks, and difficulties that do arise are not their own fault.”

The sound of bagpipes launched the presentation, as veterans from the army, navy and RAF were called up once again to collect their veteran’s badges and scrolls.

Congratulating each of them was High Wycombe Mayor, Cllr Julie Pritchard, who also met a line-up of Second World War veterans after the presentation.

To close the ceremony Mr Ross read Kipling’s poem ‘Tommy’ to the Legion hall.

One of the younger veterans collecting their badge and scroll was David Haywood, 43, a resident of Philip Drive, Flackwell Heath.

An RAF member for 16 years, he worked through the end stage of the cold war and was posted to Northern Ireland and the Gulf, during the 1991 conflict.

He said: “I thought I’d come and represent some of the interim generation. There’s and awful lot gone on since 1950 and they’re only just starting to get recognition for people.”

He explained he left the forces in 1999 – a year after his best friend was killed in action in Bosnia. He hoped more troops who have served since the Second World War would be honoured: “It’s good it’s starting to happen but in many other countries there has been a lot more recognition for it.”

Celebrations continued into the afternoon as Legion members chatted and enjoyed a buffet and musical entertainment.