Daily Mirror

HERO BEN: I’LL STAND WITH YOU

Wounded veteran joins our tribute Lest we forget on November 8... Stand on your doorstep for two-minute silence

- BY LUCY THORNTON lucy.thornton@mirror.co.uk @lucethornt­on

HONOUR Ben meets the Queen in 2008

BRITAIN’S most severely injured soldier, Ben Parkinson MBE, is backing our campaign for a doorstep act of remembranc­e.

Lance Bombardier Ben, 36, said he would, in particular, remember two friends killed in Afghanista­n as he paid tribute to the fallen in a two-minute silence on his doorstep.

Ben, who lost both legs and suffered more than 40 injuries, in a landmine blast in Afghanista­n in 2006, said:

“I very much support the

Daily Mirror campaign.

“Remembranc­e Day is always very, very important to soldiers and it’s a strange year this year.

“It’s very important that soldiers and veterans know people haven’t forgotten their sacrifice. We are always going to need someone to protect us and to fight for us. We should not forget that.” With ceremonies curtailed due to Covid, we want the public to stand outside their homes at 11am on November 8 in a two-minute silence. The Royal British Legion, political leaders and the head of the armed forces su support our campaign. Be Ben, who served with 7 Pa Para Royal Horse Artillery, w will remember Capt Jim Philippson and Capt Alex Eida, who were killed in 2006. Ben, from Doncaster, South Yorks, said: “They were legends.” Ben is a fundraiser for the Royal British Legion. His mother Diane Dernie, 62, said: “A big part of Ben’s autumn is selling a poppy. It’s about rememberin­g.”

I very much support the Mirror’s campaign

BEN PARKINSON WOUNDED VETERAN

 ??  ?? SILENT SALUTE Ben will join our doorstep tribute
SERVICE Ben before the blast
SILENT SALUTE Ben will join our doorstep tribute SERVICE Ben before the blast

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom