Soldiers are honoured during sombre service
HIS Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex paid a sombre visit to Ulster to help honour the memory of Northern Ireland based soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
As Prince Edward touched down in Belfast on Wednesday morning, the unsettled weather matched the reflective mood ahead of the interdenominational service held at St Anne's Cathedral.
More than 600 serving soldiers wearing their desert fatigues, guests, and bereaved family members attended the memorial and thanksgiving service to honour Ulster-based 19 Light Brigade, which suffered the devastating loss of more than 80 personnel in Afghanistan during a six-month tour.
Two other soldiers honoured, Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey, were murdered by the Real IRA at their Antrim base of Massereene Barracks while waiting on transport taking them to deployment.
The 19 Light Brigade worked in Afghanistan as part of a coalition including 43 other nations. Two of these nations, the US and Denmark, also sent a delegation of soldiers to St Anne's to pay their respects.
While the service gave thanks for those soldiers who returned from Afghanistan safely, the congregation also came together to reflect and commemorate those who lost their lives or suffered injury during six months of tough fighting.
In a poignant moment, all 83 names of the soldiers who did not return home were read aloud to the congregation, and wreaths were laid in their memory.
Prince Edward, who is Royal Colonel of Ballykinler-based 2nd Battalion The Rifles, was welcomed to the service by Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast Dame Mary Peters, before being introduced to Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth and First Minister Peter Robinson, who was accompanied by wife Iris.
Security was tight as other high profile guests such as Lord Mayor of Belfast Naomi Long, Air Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup and Commander of 19 Light Brigade, Brigadier Tim Radford entered the cathedral.
It was a dignified, yet emotional service for those who had lost loved ones during the tour. Around 70 bereaved parents, young children, spouses and siblings listened to prayers and a sermon from Dean of Belfast the Very Rev Dr Houston McKelvey.
Speaking after the service, UUP Councillor for North Down Roberta Dunlop told the News Letter it had been an "extremely moving" service.
Mrs Dunlop, whose niece's husband serves with County Down based 2nd Battalion The Rifles, said: "It must be so hard for the families to be here, but it was a beautiful service and very dignified.
"When you see the age of those young men and imagine what they have had to deal with over the past year, it brings home the ultimate sacrifice made by soldiers fighting in Afghanistan."
The Earl of Wessex then travelled on to a military reception at Hillsborough Castle.
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
