I AM puzzled by the proposal to create a memorial in York to local servicemen who have died in Afghanistan.

Firstly, we seem to have fallen into a habit of referring to every young man who has volunteered to join the army, and been sent to Afghanistan, as a “hero”. I wonder why?

Second, compared with other wars for which public monuments have been erected, it seems the proposed memorial is just to commemorate three young men from the York area.

Yes, every death is a tragedy, but the combined “allies” in Afghanistan have lost a few hundred servicemen and women, compared with the 10,000 (lowest estimate) Afghans who have died, most of them civilians.

Should a memorial to the Afghan campaign not remind us of the folly of war?

The people of Afghanistan have never threatened Britain, yet we have invaded them three times in our history, sought to change their way of life and left many shattered lives and families, only to withdraw, leaving a very poor nation to rebuild itself.

Is it “heroic” to be part of all this? Should we not remind future generations to learn from our mistakes, and not to repeat this folly?

Joyce Pickard, Hansom Place, York.


• YOU report that York’s MPs have backed the appeal to create a memorial to soldiers from York who have lost their lives in Afghanistan (The Press, January 14). I have to agree with Mrs Page (Letters, January 11) that a modest plaque in the Minster would provide a focus for bereaved families, and that fundraising should be focused on helping servicemen and women who have been maimed in the conflict.

The Press is to be commended for publishing some weeks ago the picture of the 18-year-old soldier who had lost an arm and both legs, and his then girlfriend, aged 16, who had tried to be his nurse and carer.

Their friends had been too embarrassed by the extent of the young serviceman’s disfigurement, to attend the couple’s engagement party.

Perhaps most of us felt more comfortable in looking on the faces of the three fallen servicemen, pictured in happier times.

A city-centre memorial would be viewed by future onlookers in the context of the eventual outcome of our intervention in Afghanistan. History’s verdict on the enterprise remains to be seen.

The loss of any young life is tragic, but perhaps our concern should be directed towards support for the living.

Mary Machen, Neville Street, York.