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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Calls grow for Armed Forces Day | Calls grow for Armed Forces Day |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Senior military commanders, MPs and families of service personnel killed in war have lent their support to calls for an Armed Forces Day to be created. | Senior military commanders, MPs and families of service personnel killed in war have lent their support to calls for an Armed Forces Day to be created. |
| Gen Lord Guthrie, chief of defence staff under Tony Blair, told the Sunday Telegraph it was "a marvellous idea". | Gen Lord Guthrie, chief of defence staff under Tony Blair, told the Sunday Telegraph it was "a marvellous idea". |
| Tory MP Patrick Mercer said it would be a chance to thank servicemen and women. | Tory MP Patrick Mercer said it would be a chance to thank servicemen and women. |
| The calls come after a survey by the Art Fund charity suggested two-thirds of Britons felt too little was done torecognise their sacrifices. | |
| The charity said 70% of the 2,082 adults it surveyed in January also supported the idea of issuing a series of stamps, dedicated to each person who has died, by official war artist Steve McQueen. | The charity said 70% of the 2,082 adults it surveyed in January also supported the idea of issuing a series of stamps, dedicated to each person who has died, by official war artist Steve McQueen. |
| 'Spontaneous thanks' | 'Spontaneous thanks' |
| Mr Mercer, himself a former army officer, said: "An Armed Forces Day is an outstanding idea and I support it 110%." | Mr Mercer, himself a former army officer, said: "An Armed Forces Day is an outstanding idea and I support it 110%." |
| He told the paper troops should wear uniforms and ex-servicemen their medals on the day. | He told the paper troops should wear uniforms and ex-servicemen their medals on the day. |
| You have to pick your battles but this is one that should be fought. I think the public would support this too Admiral Sir Henry Leach Campaign for war stampsPublic 'back Iraq tribute' | You have to pick your battles but this is one that should be fought. I think the public would support this too Admiral Sir Henry Leach Campaign for war stampsPublic 'back Iraq tribute' |
| "I think the idea of spontaneous thanks will chime very well with the British public," he added. | "I think the idea of spontaneous thanks will chime very well with the British public," he added. |
| "It will reflect the sort of thing which went on in the First World War when there were national days for the wounded." | "It will reflect the sort of thing which went on in the First World War when there were national days for the wounded." |
| Admiral Sir Henry Leach, who led the Royal Navy during the Falklands War in 1982, also gave his full support to the idea. | Admiral Sir Henry Leach, who led the Royal Navy during the Falklands War in 1982, also gave his full support to the idea. |
| "You have to pick your battles but this is one that should be fought. I think the public would support this too," he told the Telegraph. | "You have to pick your battles but this is one that should be fought. I think the public would support this too," he told the Telegraph. |
| 'Pride' | 'Pride' |
| Reg Keys, whose son Thomas was murdered by an Iraqi mob in June 2003, said: "Actions speak louder than words. | Reg Keys, whose son Thomas was murdered by an Iraqi mob in June 2003, said: "Actions speak louder than words. |
| "The government keeps telling us how proud they are of our armed forces - now let them show it with an Armed Forces Day." | "The government keeps telling us how proud they are of our armed forces - now let them show it with an Armed Forces Day." |
| Armed Forces Days already exist in a number of countries including the US, Russia and Italy. | Armed Forces Days already exist in a number of countries including the US, Russia and Italy. |
| The Telegraph suggests the day could be marked by all servicemen and women wearing uniform, whether on or off-duty, open days could be held at barracks and school assemblies could highlight the role of the armed forces. | The Telegraph suggests the day could be marked by all servicemen and women wearing uniform, whether on or off-duty, open days could be held at barracks and school assemblies could highlight the role of the armed forces. |
| 'Sacrifices integral' | 'Sacrifices integral' |
| Last year, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, expressed concerns about "the growing gulf between the Army and the nation". | Last year, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, expressed concerns about "the growing gulf between the Army and the nation". |
| He suggested the work carried out by troops - and the sacrifices that form an integral part of their job - were not being acknowledged. | He suggested the work carried out by troops - and the sacrifices that form an integral part of their job - were not being acknowledged. |
| To date, 175 UK troops have been killed in operations in Iraq, and a further 89 have lost their lives in operations in Afghanistan since 2001. | To date, 175 UK troops have been killed in operations in Iraq, and a further 89 have lost their lives in operations in Afghanistan since 2001. |
| Official war artist Steve McQueen has created a series of stamps dedicated to each member of the armed forces who has lost their life in Iraq and is calling for Royal Mail to issue them for public use. | Official war artist Steve McQueen has created a series of stamps dedicated to each member of the armed forces who has lost their life in Iraq and is calling for Royal Mail to issue them for public use. |