NO-ONE who was at last night’s Examiner Community Awards could doubt the pride and admiration felt in the town for the 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.
A wave of applause greeted the presentation of the night’s highest accolade, the Achievement Award to the regiment which the people of Huddersfield have taken to their hearts.
This is a proud regiment with a long history of service – and of sacrifice.
And Huddersfield understands that only too well. In its last tour, the regiment lost nine soldiers and as a town we felt that loss deeply as three of those who gave their lives came from our area.
Throughout it all, the regiment has continued to work towards peace and stability in Afghanistan and at home has been tireless in its efforts to help those who have lost loved ones.
Last night’s accolade then was just a small token of a town’s appreciation for all those whose daily duties put them at risk on our behalf.
But as the applause echoed round the John Smith Stadium, who could have missed the poignancy of knowing that another soldier lost his life this week in the most appalling and unexpected of circumstances.
Soldiering might have been the job of Drummer Lee Rigby, killed in brutal fashion on a London street, but the vulnerability of our service people on home soil will have given many pause for thought. It did last night and will surely strengthen the general determination to support those who serve.
