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Thursday, June 26, 2008, 07:00
Plymouth City Council Cabinet member Glenn Jordan said the city's rich military heritage would provide a fitting backdrop for the nation's tributes.
While Plymouth is organising a series of events over Veterans' Day on Friday, as well as on Saturday and Sunday, this year Blackpool is hosting the national celebration.
“It is certainly an aspiration of mine and one which the city is working towards,” said Cllr Jordan, who spent 10 years in the Royal Navy between 1983 and 1993, serving on a number of Devonport-based ships.
“Plymouth should be hosting the national veterans' events.
“Out of all the cities in the country we are the only one that can say we have had all of the main services based here at one time.
“The Army, Royal Navy and the Royal Marines are still based here and the RAF used to be based here too.
“No other city can boast being the natural home to the armed forces.
“Plymouth's ties with the services are clearly evident within the city.
“Everyone knows someone who has been in the services. We're surrounded by role models here.”
Cllr Jordan reiterated the role of the services not only as a fighting force, but also as a protector and enforcer.
“Look at the work it does with regards to fighting the drugs trade or helping out with disaster relief,” he added.
“There's much more to the armed forces than being a fighting force.”
Cllr Jordan said he hoped the forthcoming weekend of events would help to inform veterans about the help and support which they could receive if they needed it.
He said figures showed that 12 per cent of homeless people were formerly in the services, while around 20 per cent of the country's prison population have a military background.
“There is help available if they need it,” he said.
Cllr Jordan, who now holds the city council position of Cabinet member for community health and leisure, served on HM ships Penelope, Broadsword and Phoebe during his service career.
He was medically discharged in 1993 after injuring his back in an accident on HMS Phoebe.
Official programmes for this weekend's veterans events are now available in The Herald's city centre shop priced at £1.
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