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| Homecoming parade for Iraq troops | Homecoming parade for Iraq troops |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of soldiers will be given a heroes' welcome as they march through Cardiff city centre to mark their return home from Iraq. | Hundreds of soldiers will be given a heroes' welcome as they march through Cardiff city centre to mark their return home from Iraq. |
| About 450 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh will take part in the parade before a medal presentation at the Millennium Stadium. | About 450 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh will take part in the parade before a medal presentation at the Millennium Stadium. |
| The homecoming parade celebrates the end of their tour of duty in Iraq. | The homecoming parade celebrates the end of their tour of duty in Iraq. |
| Three soldiers from the regiment who lost their lives will also be remembered at the ceremony on Tuesday. | Three soldiers from the regiment who lost their lives will also be remembered at the ceremony on Tuesday. |
| The public are being encouraged to attend the event, which is being funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. | The public are being encouraged to attend the event, which is being funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. |
| The soldiers, led by the Lucknow Band of the Prince of Wales Division and a Warrior armoured tracked vehicle, will march from Cardiff Castle at 1000 GMT, along St Mary Street to the Millennium Stadium for 1100 GMT. | The soldiers, led by the Lucknow Band of the Prince of Wales Division and a Warrior armoured tracked vehicle, will march from Cardiff Castle at 1000 GMT, along St Mary Street to the Millennium Stadium for 1100 GMT. |
| People are putting their lives on the line to protect us and our freedom and I think it's important for people to come along and show their support Ospreys rugby star Ian Evans, whose sister served in Iraq | People are putting their lives on the line to protect us and our freedom and I think it's important for people to come along and show their support Ospreys rugby star Ian Evans, whose sister served in Iraq |
| In front of their families, friends and members of the public, they will be presented with their Iraq medals before enjoying a lunch party on the pitch. | In front of their families, friends and members of the public, they will be presented with their Iraq medals before enjoying a lunch party on the pitch. |
| Commanding officer Lt Colonel James Swift said: "We are very lucky to be able to mark our return to Wales in such style and pay a fitting tribute to our fallen comrades." | |
| Three members of the battalion who lost their lives in Iraq - Cpl Paul Joszko, L/Cpl Ryan Francis and Pte Craig Barber - will be honoured at the ceremony. | Three members of the battalion who lost their lives in Iraq - Cpl Paul Joszko, L/Cpl Ryan Francis and Pte Craig Barber - will be honoured at the ceremony. |
| Two other soldiers who died in Iraq while attached to the Royal Welsh from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland - Pte Jamie Kerr and Pte Scott Kennedy - will also be remembered. | Two other soldiers who died in Iraq while attached to the Royal Welsh from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland - Pte Jamie Kerr and Pte Scott Kennedy - will also be remembered. |
| Ospreys rugby player Ian Evans, whose sister Lisa has recently returned home from Iraq, welcomed the parade. | Ospreys rugby player Ian Evans, whose sister Lisa has recently returned home from Iraq, welcomed the parade. |
| "People are putting their lives on the line to protect us and our freedom and I think it's important for people to come along and show their support to the armed forces and the people still serving out there," he said. | "People are putting their lives on the line to protect us and our freedom and I think it's important for people to come along and show their support to the armed forces and the people still serving out there," he said. |
| The parade comes after Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, said in September he was concerned that the work carried out by troops was not being acknowledged. | The parade comes after Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the Army, said in September he was concerned that the work carried out by troops was not being acknowledged. |
| The 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, which is based in Lucknow Barracks, Tidworth, in Wiltshire, recruits from the whole of Wales. | The 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, which is based in Lucknow Barracks, Tidworth, in Wiltshire, recruits from the whole of Wales. |
| Anyone who wants to attend the event should enter the stadium at Gate 2 for the parade and medal ceremony at 1100 GMT. | Anyone who wants to attend the event should enter the stadium at Gate 2 for the parade and medal ceremony at 1100 GMT. |