CARLISLE is gearing up to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of the Falklands Conflict with a day full of commemoration, reflection and coming together on Saturday, May 14. 

MP John Stevenson, who is supporting the event, said he is 'delighted' that over 100 Falklands veterans from Cumbria and further afield will be marching to the Cenotaph at 1pm, and then attending a Service of Remembrance at St Cuthbert's Church from 2pm.

Outside the Old Town Hall from 12:30pm, in Carlisle's Greenmarket, will also see the raising of a Falklands flag by Mark Gibbs from Maryport, a former Royal Marine.

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"A particular highlight of the day will be the presentation of the Falkland's flag to the people of Carlisle and I do hope as many people as possible will join me on the day for this historic moment," said John Stevenson MP.

"It is important so that we remember the bravery of the 33,000 British Troops who travelled to the Falklands to re-establish peace and freedom and the ultimate sacrifice of those that fell.

"I am proud to have been able to support the Carlisle Falklands 40 group who wanted to ensure the anniversary did not go unmarked in this their home city."

The event is being organised from a collaborative effort which includes Carlisle Falkland’s Veteran Howard Foster and Canon Jim Hyslop of St. Cuthbert’s Church. 

Howard Foster, who was a former observation officer with the 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment during the conflict, said: "I was out in Belize when the Falklands Conflict started, and we didn't even know where the Falklands where at the time.  

"It doesn't feel like forty years ago, I meet up with a friend I served with quite regularly, at least two or three times a year, but we tend not to talk about the conflict but more the funny side of life, we don't dwell too much on what actually happened. 

"In those days, it was join the army and see the world and that's exactly what I did for the first few years, never did I think we would go to war.

"If you came back well and healthy that's what matters, we went there to do a job and we did the job well - especially considering it was at the other side of the world," he said. 

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