You’re allowed to be proud.

The fighting in Afghanistan is very much in our minds at the moment. Personally, Emma and I have a number of friends who have been wounded and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families. To Alex, Harry and James, as well as all the others, you are the reason we are doing Help for Heroes, we are so proud of you and wish you all a speedy recovery.

You may think that saying ‘we are proud’ strikes the wrong note and it would have been better to say that we are thinking of them, that we care and that we support them, instead. We do, all of that, but we also feel a huge sense of good old-fashioned pride.

The blokes, (our men and women of the Armed Forces) are doing an incredible job, facing extraordinary challenges, having to take enormous risks and they are doing it willingly and cheerfully. We have every right to feel proud of them.

We have every right to be proud of those who fight to rescue a mate, of those who are flying in to landing sites, under fire, to get the casualties out and proud of those who are working around the clock to save lives in the field hospitals. We feel proud of the teams that fly the casualties back the UK and proud, so very proud, of the medical teams, both military and civilian, who care for them at Selly Oak and Headley Court.

That feeling of pride extends way beyond the patients and staff at Headley Court, to the welfare support, the families, the friends, the whole extended family, the team, that cares for the wounded. They include the H4H staff, the Service charities, the fundraisers and the donors, all of us linked in a desire to see our boys and girls get the help they deserve.

We have been manning the Help for Heroes stand at the CLA Game Fair over the weekend and there have been dozens of fund raising events going on around the UK with our wonderful army of volunteers joining in to raise money for our wounded.  Everyone who is doing their bit to raise money should be proud. We have raised £26m since we started and the money is still pouring in, that is wonderful and something to be very proud of indeed.

This extract from Young Officer’s email serving in Helmand says it all;

One of my blokes, who was next to James when he was blown up, was on patrol the next day.  That is being a hero. Initially, I wanted him to stay but he insisted and I thought it would be good to get him straight back out, otherwise leaving the gate would soon become a drama for him.  All the boys are scared going out, but they all do it, and have all performed brilliantly.

I am sleeping outside on a camp bed, it is very sandy here, and there is little relief from the sun.  I made some 'garlic bread' today, just flour, water and butter, with some mixed herbs from a 10 man ration pack, it was ok!  The boys have made proper bread!!! I almost cried with pride.  They are making pancakes today, and even had sort of pizzas the other night.  The water we drink is hot as it sits in an enormous bladder in the sun all day, so we put our bottles in a sock and wet it - which actually cools it. They have finally got all their kit, and have put flags up all over their shelter - which is a lean to structure next to the outer perimeter wall.  The showers are water bladders, like camelbaks, but do the job.

 Morale I think is ok, and I have to admit I have pulled out the old red 'Serve to Lead' book a few times to read about some proper leaders.  It’s good stuff.  For real literature, I am reading Flashman, and he normally gives me all the inspiration I need!

If you feel proud when you read that, then I think it is fair to say that we are proud of them all; we really are allowed to be proud! The next time you see someone in the Armed Forces or someone involved in supporting them, why not tell them that you are proud of them!

Well done, everyone, we are proud of you!

Bryn