This Saturday marks Armed Forces Day. While this official day to highlight support for our Armed Forces is a relatively recent concept, the strength of feeling towards those who ensure our freedoms is nothing new.
Our nation’s gratitude and thanks should not end when an individual leaves the Armed Forces. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that service leavers will receive a new ID card to mark their time serving our country. Not only will this allow them to maintain a tangible link to their career, but it will assist in accessing support from the NHS, their local authority and charities.
The Armed Forces Covenant is our country’s commitment to those who protect our nation with honour and courage. Thousands of businesses and organisations have signed up, with the Government going further to ensure that our universities do the same, so that veterans and their families are not met with barriers when accessing education.
Many people will have seen the new housing development on the former Kilnmead car park in Northgate, next to the Crawley Army Reserve Centre.
It is with pride that the street housing these new properties will be named John Brackpool Close. Private Brackpool hailed from Crawley and died in action serving our country in Afghanistan in 2009, at the age of just 27. The flats as part of this new development will be named John Brackpool Court.
Henry Smith MP
Crawley Constituency
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
01293 934554/020 7219 7043
henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk
www.henrysmith.info