Petition bid to recognise Wootton Bassett's patriotism (From This Is Wiltshire)

Petition bid to recognise Wootton Bassett's patriotism

2:08pm Tuesday 20th January 2009 in

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A petition to get official recognition for Wootton Bassett's respect for fallen war heroes has attracted more than 1,000 signatures.

The people of the town line the streets in their hundreds every time British servicemen return to the country via RAF Lyneham.

Members of the Thank You Wootton Bassett Facebook group, which was set up to honour the town’s people, is now urging the Government to recognise them with an official status.

The petition, sent to Number 10 Downing Street for approval states: “It would be nice to see some sort of meaningful recognition and not just a line spoken in Parliament.

“A lot of people in the country are proud of what the town is doing and would like to see the Government recognise it too.”

Other supporters are calling for the town to be twinned with the Armed Forces or see a plaque erected in the town centre.

Nigel Jones, 44, from Aldershot decided to set up the petition after losing friends in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr Jones, who served for 11 years in 216 Parachute Signal Squadron, said: “I’ve never been to a repatriation in Wootton Bassett, but I know how many people line the streets time after time.

“I know how much this would mean to the families of the fallen to see such a good turnout so they then know that people do care.

“The town needs to have some kind of honour bestowed on it. It’s amazing these people feel like they want to come out to show that these servicemen are never forgotten.

“I imagine there could be nothing worse than to have lost a son or daughter and then to see that no one really cares.”

The petition can be signed by visiting the link omn the right and will be online until November.