Mum’s pride at soldier tribute
THE mum of a soldier killed in Afghanistan has spoken of her pride after his uniform went on display in his hometown.
Michael Sweeney, of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, was just 19 when he was killed in Helmand Province in 2010.
Hundreds lined the roads in Blyth for his funeral and his mum Kim Sweeney said the town has taken him to its heart.
Yesterday, an artistic tribute to Michael, featuring his own uniform, was unveiled in the town centre in a moving ceremony.
Kim, 48, said: “Michael’s things had been packed away in a box and I felt it was such a shame because Michael was a part of Blyth.
“I thought his uniform should be on display for people to see.
“He was so well liked and at his funeral, thousands came to pay their respects.
“We were so humbled by it. I just felt that now he belonged to the people of Blyth.
“He would have been shocked by it – ‘is this all for me?’ – but he really touched people’s hearts.”
The striking display shows the uniform surrounded by paintings by y members of a local arts group.
Sitting in a window at the e entrance to the Keel Row Shopping g Centre, it will be on display for r visitors until mid-July.
Kim hopes eventually to find a permanent space to keep it on n show.
“It’s not just about Michael, it’s s about war and service and things s like that,” she said.
“They’ve come up with some e spectacular pieces of art.”
Kim said the display was a fitting tribute to her fun-loving son, who was “always running everywhere”.
She said he will be remembered for his “loyalty” and for being someone who took great pride in his uniform.
“When he left, obviously I didn’t want him to go, but he said to me ‘if I don’t go, who will?’” Kim said.
Michael’s immaculately turned- out uniform was laid out for the display by his friend Martin Miller, 28, who trained with him before they served together in Afghanistan.
Martin said: “I was in the army with him for about four years, so it was nice to do something like this for him.
“It’s great to see that he’s obviously not forgotten. It’s nice to have his uniform on show instead of gathering dust in a box.
“We would parade for the Queen in those uniforms and I still think they’re the smartest uniforms in the army.”
He added: “I was finishing off the tour in Afghanistan at the time of his funeral, so even though it’s been nearly 10 years I felt this was my chance to actually say goodbye.”