George’s Blog II

Not since the Falklands have our armed forces been held in such high esteem as they are today.

Maybe it’s the puzzlement of why our troops are so far from home in some strange country doing what for the national good? Or wondering why after 6 years of being killed in Iraq, searching for those Blairite “weapons of mass destruction” or being rushed off to Bosnia, Africa or other destinations for recent vain glorious Prime Ministers.

What has emerged in such a high cost in blood and pain is the essential British hero and heroine. Young men and women who’s sense of duty to Country and comrades stands in stark contrast to the selfish “me above all” culture and whingeing self pity of large sectors of modern Britain.

To courage and valour delivered daily under stress and privation, contrasts our own government armies of pen pushers led by their storm troopers of Health and Safety worrying about severe paper cut accidents and sharp desk edges.

To men and women who risk death and injury and see comrades fight and die in distant lands, and then need a risk assessment to mount a high street parade to honour those same fallen comrades, it must be hard to understand what it was all for and where the real values of the UK have been highjacked.

These men of our armed forces are not beggars or asylum seekers, they are not in search of charity or need to prove their worth, but on occasions they do need our help

and support.

The Country hears and see’s the very public return of flag draped coffins of the fallen, treated as they are with great reverence by all those who stand in silence at Wootten Bassett.

What is less public is the massive flow of wounded and seriously injured troops who are brought less publicly back into their homeland and in many cases their needs are poorly provided for.

Thus has arisen the need for funds to meet the needs of our heroes

To raise this ongoing awareness a team of foolhardy former soldiers and one member of HM Coastguards will row from Ardglas to Fleetwood.

Risk has been an every day occurrence for these guys, so whats another one? The fact that neither of the ex soldiers has rowed at sea before is no bar to their determination.

A 60 hour sea crossing in one of the worlds most notorious sea’s will see them leave on 20th April and arrive on 23rd April in Fleetwood (Or France if their compass is faulty)

And the objective?

To raise up to £100,000 for Help for Heroes, and you can, and I hope you will, help

http://www.2skinsinaboat.org.uk

you can donate whether large or small to this worthy cause – please do it right now!!