500-strong band backs our heroes (From York Press)

500-strong band backs our heroes

9:12am Wednesday 19th August 2009

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A MILESTONE has been reached in our drive to ensure the wounded war heroes of North Yorkshire receive the care they deserve for their courage.

More than 500 people have added their names to The Press’ Debt of Honour petition, calling for our political leaders to rethink they way they provide compensation and treatment for injured military personnel whose sense of duty sees them risk their lives.

We want the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to radically overhaul the way servicemen and women returning from conflict zones such as Afghanistan are treated when faced with picking up the pieces.

And as well as the backing we have received from politicians of all parties, charities which help the wounded and the families of those whose lives have been thrown into turmoil by their bravery, our readers are also right behind us.

But we need you to join in our fight for military justice by signing our petition and showing the strength of feeling from the people of our region.

“We are delighted that the North Yorkshire public have really got behind the Debt Of Honour campaign,” said Chris Cunningham, county manager for the Royal British Legion in North & East Yorkshire, which is supporting our aims.

“The MoD has just announced that 94 British personnel were wounded in action in Afghanistan in July – more than in the whole of 2006. We also understand ministers are requesting more British troops to be sent to support the NATO mission.

“Never has there been a more appropriate time for there to be a full and independent review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme to ensure our troops get a fair deal.”

The aims of Debt Of Honour are to ask the MoD to: • Hold an independent review of its much-criticised Armed Forces Compensation Scheme in the interests of fairness, generosity, dignity and honour.

• Provide more immediate support and funding for those with physical and mental injuries when they return home.

• Properly recognise the terrible effects of psychological damage and trauma – not just physical injury – on service personnel.

You can support Debt Of Honour by signing the petition form>>

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