Legion award to Wootton Bassett
16 May 2009
Royal British Legion members from Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire are to be recognised on Sunday with a special award at the charity's annual national conference.
National President Lt Gen Sir John Kiszely will present the tribute in recognition of Legion members in Wootton Bassett who have turned out to honour hundreds of fallen British servicemen and women being repatriated from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The tributes were started spontaneously two years ago by Legion members pausing to salute the cortege from nearby RAF Lyneham, used to return all those killed on operations.
"No one organised it, no one requested it," said Gen Kiszely. "It happened because it was the right thing to do, and our members stood ready to give these fallen heroes the honour they so richly deserve."
Since then, the repatriation ceremonies have grown to involve the entire town and have earned widespread praise and attention.
The award is a certificate of appreciation presented by the Legion's Board of Trustees to the Legion's Wootton Bassett branch, "in appreciation of the outstanding service given by the branch in honouring fallen Service men and women."
