Wearing her son’s medals for the first time, Lorraine McClure is hoping to join the Vikings’ homecoming parade to pay tribute to his comrades.

Private Aaron McClure, 19, was killed while serving in Afghanistan five years ago. He was serving with B-company, 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, when he was killed by friendly fire in Helmand Province on August 23, 2007.

Backing The Star’s Honour Our Heroes campaign, Mrs McClure, of Marlow Road, Ipswich, urged the public to line the streets to support the troops as they parade through Ipswich on November 5.

“Even if you don’t agree with the war in Afghanistan, it is important to show your support for our boys,” said Mrs McClure, who has previously called for our troops to be withdrawn from the war zone.

“While they are out there you can send them parcels and letters but when they head home it is so important to line the streets, show your faces and cheer them home. It is important for morale.”

For Mrs McClure, who never got to see her son Aaron return to Ipswich, homecoming parades are emotional occasions.

“I used to find them very hard,” she added. But they are getting easier and I am really, really looking forward to watching the boys parade through Ipswich next month.

“I feel so proud of them all. Many were comrades of Aaron’s so it is really important for us as a family to show our support.

“I will definitely be there with my family. I am hoping to squeeze in a gap with the Suffolk Veterans who will be parading with their standards. I will be wearing Aaron’s medals for the first time – it will be very emotional.

“It doesn’t take much to get behind a campaign like this. It is a way of saying thank you to all the boys who fight for their country, for all they go through.

“I want to say well done to the Vikings and welcome them all home safely.”