Veterans honoured at parade (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Veterans honoured at parade

8:36pm Sunday 29th June 2008 in News

TRIBUTES were paid to ex-servicemen of the British Armed Forces today, during a parade through Harpenden to mark the second annual Veterans Day.

Forty veterans were cheered as they marched through the town centre, before they enjoyed a reception at the Royal British Legion, in Leyton Road.

The UK Armed Forces Veteran's Lapel Badge, which is awarded to anybody who has served in the military at any time, was also presented to 18 people.

Following the march, pipe bands from Milton Keynes and Northampton played on the Green outside the British Legion branch that was adorned in Union Jack bunting.

One veteran who proudly joined the parade was Don Atkins, 84, from Lancaster Road, St Albans.

He served with the Royal Navy from 1942 to 1946, and before then was an ARP (air raid protection) warden during the London Blitz.

Mr Atkins said: "I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought it was a first class parade.

"I think it's very important veterans are celebrated, because people who served in the Armed Forces are probably showing the greatest assistance and patriotism to the country they can give.

"The people today are probably doing more for the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan than the thousands of us who were in the Forces during the war. They are at the sharp end of the conflict. In the four years I served, for only two years was I in the front line."

Another veteran at the event was Taffy Jones, 75, from Hemel Hempstead. He joined the Army in 1951 and served three years in the Welsh Regiment and 22 years with the Physical Training Corp.

He said: "There was a really good turnout. I was quite surprised at the number of people on the streets.

"I think it's wonderful. It's nice to let civilians know what we've done in the past."

This was Harpenden's second annual Veterans Day parade and Pat Kent, the Mayor of Harpenden, said more should be done to recognise the sacrifices of those in the Armed Forces.

Mayor Kent said: "I think it was wonderful. It was so lovely to see so many out and about in town.

"When I hear that they come back and cannot walk through town with their uniform on, it's absolutely disgraceful. They're laying their lives down for us. I have always supported the Armed Forces as much as I can, women as well as men."

Also involved in the parade were the British Legion Youth Marching Band, the Sealed Knot Civil War re-enactment society, the Salvation Army, the Air Training Corp, Sea Cadets and Army Cadets.

Any veterans who do not have a Veteran's Lapel Badge should telephone event organiser David Daniel on 07957 288661.