Remember families of the Fallen, urges UUP's Robinson

Mr Matthew Robinson, the East Londonderry Ulster Unionist Party Assembly candidate, has said that with Remembrance commemorations and Armistice Day on 11th November, people in the constituency should also remember the families of the Fallen in their thoughts and prayers.

   Mr Robinson made his appeal as he laid a wreath on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party at the memorial in Brackfield Wood in the constituency. Mr Robinson also laid wreaths on behalf of the UUP at ceremonies in Coleraine and Castlerock. 

   Mr Robinson said that, if elected to Stormont, he would be campaigning strongly not just for veterans themselves, but also to get increased support for the families of veterans.

   Mr Robinson said that whilst it was “very important to honour the memory of those in the Armed Forces who had made the supreme sacrifice for freedom and democracy”, it was equally important to remember the grieving families of those who had died, especially those from a farming background and the agricultural sector.

   “It must never be forgotten the numerous folk from our farming community who left their farms and joined up to fight for the freedoms we enjoy today. 

    “For example, anyone who has had the privilege of visiting the Somme Memorial in France could not fail to be moved emotionally walking along the rows of headstones bearing the names of those from Ulster who had made the supreme sacrifice, many from a farming background. 

   “It was not just the tragedy of these young men who had died; there was also the enormous burden of suffering by the loved ones at home. There are many alive in Northern Ireland today who lost family and friends in the carnage of the Great War. We should remember them, too, on Armistice Day this year. 

   “But we must also remember the families of those members of the Armed Forces who died in the Second World War, in subsequent conflicts, and especially those members of the security forces who were killed in more than three decades of Troubles in Northern Ireland. 

   “Equally, we should also remember those from the security forces who have been wounded in body and mind and left scarred for the remainder of their lives as a result of their service; their families, too, must be uppermost in our prayers during our Remembrance and Armistice ceremonies. 

   “Similarly, we should remember the families of the innocent civilians who have been murdered by terrorists during the Troubles. Commemorating Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day also brings to mind the Poppy Day Massacre in Enniskillen, the workmen who were killed at Kingsmill, the Shankill Road bombing; the carnage of Omagh and at many other places throughout the country.  

   “Over the coming days, and especially at Remembrance ceremonies, many of the families of the victims of terrorism will be remembering, and we should be remembering them, too. 

   “No matter what setbacks or progress occur in the peace process, we should never forget those gallant members of our security forces who paid the supreme sacrifice in the fight against the evils of terrorism. 

   “Likewise, we should always remember the families of those members of the security forces who have been killed or wounded. For many of these relatives, their tragedy is ongoing,” said Mr Robinson.