Havant MP Alan Mak is travelling nearly 8000 miles to the Falkland Islands to honour British service personnel on the 35th anniversary of the Falklands War.
A strong supporter of the Armed Forces, Mr Mak said honouring the service and sacrifice of the 255 British personnel who died in 1982 was one of the most important tasks he will carry out since being elected in May 2015. He said many of those who served in the Falklands were young men like him, including sailors from the Havant area.
The focal point of his visit will be laying a wreath at the Liberation Monument in Stanley, the Island’s capital, which commemorates the liberation of the Island after it was invaded by Argentinian forces. Mr Mak’s message, attached to the wreath produced by the Royal British Legion specially for MPs asks the British people to remember the service and sacrifice of those who gave their lives, including those from Havant.
Mr Mak said he had met a number of Falklands veterans from the Havant area, and was moved to hear that local men who died in the conflict are now honoured with plaques at Havant’s own War Memorial outside St Faith’s Church in the town centre.
He said, “Although the Falklands is thousands of miles away, I am determined to honour the service and sacrifice of British personnel who defended our territory and gave their lives in the name of freedom and our security.”
He added, “Royal Navy sailors from Havant were sent to the Falklands to do their duty so it’s a real honour to make the same journey 35 years later. As veterans retire and the fallen fade from memory, we must commemorate their bravery both locally and in the Falklands where they served with such distinction”.
“Having a spent with the Royal Navy on “work experience”, I know we have the most professional naval force and marines in the world, and I look forward to learning more about their service in the Falklands the lessons we can learn from that conflict as we strengthen our Navy today.”
Whilst in the Falklands, Mr Mak will also visit battlefields from the conflict era, walking in the footsteps of British service personnel, meet the British Governor of the Islands, visit members of the Island’s Defence Force, and met members of the Island’s Parliament, the Legislative Assembly.
Flight time from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire to Port Stanley is around 20 hours, including a refuelling stop on Ascension Island. Mr Mak said this is the longest flight he has ever taken, but said it was well worth it given the importance of the visit.