Remember families through the year

Mr Butler called on people throughout Lagan Valley to remember the families of the Fallen in their thoughts and prayers well beyond Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.

Mr Butler said while it was “very important to honour the memory of those in the Armed Forces who had made the supreme sacrifice for freedom and democracy”, it was equally important to remember the grieving families of those who had died.

“For them,” he added, “the suffering of losing loved ones continues throughout the year and not just on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.

“Many of my UUP colleagues have visited Commonwealth cemeteries throughout Europe and especially the Somme Memorial in France. No one could fail to be moved emotionally walking along the rows of headstones bearing the names of those from Ulster who had made the supreme sacrifice.

“It was not just the tragedy of these young men who had died; there was also the enormous burden of suffering by the loved ones at home.

“We must also remember the families of those members of the Armed Forces who died in the Second World War, in subsequent conflicts, and especially those members of the security forces and civilians who were killed in more than three decades of Troubles in Northern Ireland.

“And we should not forget to pray for the safety of our gallant forces fighting in other overseas conflict in the war against international terrorism.”