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Falklands War to be commemorated | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The 25th anniversary of the Falklands War will be marked by a series of events next summer, including a veterans' march down the Mall. | |
Veterans Minister Derek Twigg, speaking on the HMS Illustrious in Greenwich, said the islands' liberation was a "huge achievement". | |
Events will begin with raising the Union flag in Port Stanley on 14 June, the day the conflict officially ended. | |
A total of 255 British soldiers and 655 Argentineans died in the 74-day war. | |
Three people from the islands, in the south Atlantic, were also killed. | |
'Professionalism' | |
The islands, off the coast of Argentina, were a cause of friction between the two countries since Britain claimed them in 1833. | |
Mr Twigg said the liberation of the islands was achieved by "all three services" and civilians who supported them, in "harsh conditions, 8,000 miles from home". | |
Mr Twigg praised the courage of UK troops | |
"I cannot praise highly enough the professionalism, courage and determination of our forces who served in the Falklands," he said. | |
"It is right that we should commemorate this and remember those who lost their lives". | |
As well as a march by Falklands War veterans down the Mall to Buckingham Palace, there will be a flypast of aircraft from the era. | |
Commemorations at Horse Guards Parade in London, will include an audio visual link-up with Port Stanley, the islands' capital. | |
Pangbourne College, Berkshire, where the Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel is based, will also take part in events. | |
The Illustrious, a 22,5000-tonne aircraft carrier is moored off Greenwich after taking part in a series of Remembrance Day events over the weekend. | The Illustrious, a 22,5000-tonne aircraft carrier is moored off Greenwich after taking part in a series of Remembrance Day events over the weekend. |