COME and show our troops abroad what they mean to you.The Evening Star is today launching its very own section for, you, the readers, to send your 'blueys' in a bid to support our Royal Anglian troops in Afghanistan.
COME and show our troops what they mean to you.
The Evening Star is today launching its very own section for, you, the readers, to send your 'blueys' in a bid to thank our Royal Anglian troops as they begin to return to their homes after serving on the front line in Afghanistan.
Its launch comes on the day that Private Aaron McClure's mother, Lorraine McClure, has thanked everyone for all their kindness and support through the hardest month of her life following his death.
Private Aaron McClure was killed in a friendly fire incident on August 23, along with two others from the 1st battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment.
Today, a Ministry of Defence spokesman spoke about the importance of such messages of support for the soldiers who have fought away from home.
A spokesman for MOD said: “Soldiers are well trained and well equipped.
“The Chief of General Staff General Sir Richard Dannatt said only last week that soldiers want their efforts and successes in the most challenging of conditions, and the ultimate sacrifice that some make, to be appreciated by the public.
“The opportunity for the public to leave messages of support will be much appreciated by the servicemen and women in operational theatres and will boost morale as they work so hard to be a force of good.”
Pte McClure's regiment, the 1st battalion of the Royal Anglians, is still deployed in the Helmand Province, where the 19-year-old soldier was killed after a US aircraft after an American F15 fighter jet dropped a bomb from an aircraft based at RAF Lakenheath.
However the Royal Anglians will soon be returning home, starting in the next few weeks, and with all the troops due back by the end of October.
Blueys, so-called after the blue-coloured free aerogrammes traditional sent to soldiers by family and friends, were issued for the first time during the early days of the Northern Ireland deployment.
If you want to send your messages of support to our troops, visit www.eveningstar.co.uk/blueys
n. Do you have a family member in the forces? How important is it for them to have contact with people at home?
n.Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
Royal Anglian soldiers killed in Afghanistan
Private Aaron James McClure, aged 19 from Ipswich
Private Robert Graham Foster, aged 19 from Harlow
Private John Thrumble, aged 21 from Chelmsford
Captain David Hicks, aged 26 from Surrey
Private Tony Rawson, aged 27 from Dagenham, Essex
Lance Corporal Alex Hawkins, aged 22 from East Dereham, Norfolk
Corporal Darren Bonner, aged 31 from Norfolk
Lance Corporal George Russell Davey, aged 23 from Suffolk
Private Chris Gray, aged 19 from Leicestershire
Private Darren John George
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