MP Kieran Mullan's latest column for Crewe Nub News: Armed Forces Day
Crewe and Nantwich MP, Dr Kieran Mullan, offers his latest column the recent Armed Forces Day celebrations in Crewe:
Last year I went and visited the local Help for Heroes team at their stand at Tesco in Crewe celebrating Armed Forces Day.
It was a great effort to have that stand raising money and awareness, but Steve Pragnall and the team were clear that there was potential to do so much more.
All I could say to them was that they were absolutely right.
Crewe and the whole area has such a strong armed forces presence and we all thought the community would be more than willing to get behind a big celebration.
Last weekend, a year later, I arrived at Queens Park to see an absolutely fantastic Armed Forces Weekend in full force - thanks to the hard work of Steve and the whole Help the Heroes team.
There was a great turnout, lovely weather and loads of fun things taking place.
The event featured military vehicles, army displays, recruitment support, charity stalls, ice cream, boating and much more.
These sort of events help in so many ways. They remind our veterans and serving personnel that we care about and appreciate their service.
They help recruit new people that we need to carry on making that huge commitment to us and their country.
They let the whole community come together.
Men in Sheds were there, Crewe Police, Everybody Leisure and many more.
It was a privilege to meet D-Day Veteran and local war hero Bernard Morgan who joined the army when he just 18. He was only 20 on the day of the beach landings.
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He described being moored off the coast waiting to land, hoping that stray shell flying overhead didn't land on his boat as he saw happening to others.
I really can't begin to imagine how that must have felt and the bravery it took.
He served in the RAF for five years and was a front-line Code Breaker operating a Typex machine with 83 Group Control Centre, a Mobile Signals Unit, controlling the movements of allied aircraft over North West Europe during World War Two.
He is actually a holder of the Legion D'Honneur, Frances highest military honour after his contribution to the liberation of France and his landing on Gold Beach.
I also got to meet the fantastic volunteers that run the local Armed Forces Breakfast Club, who offer a place for former service personnel to get together in a low-key way to share their experiences and support one another.
A huge congratulations to Steve and the whole Help for Heroes team for putting on a great day.
The event was also supported by Crewe & District Military Vehicle Club, Department for Work & Pensions, Crewe Town Council, Royal British Legion and Cheshire East Council.
I am already looking forward to next year.
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