I AM writing with regards to the emotive headline of last week’s Penarth Times “Council condemned over Marine’s cenotaph snub”.
On this issue the council has taken the correct action and Councillor Gwyn John and Andrew RT Davies should take note and support this stance.
Whilst it is tragic that Paul Woodland died (as it is for any other young person robbed so early of their life) the Cenotaph is a memorial to men and women who have died as a result of conflict and it is not there to commemorate those who have died through illness, disease and non battle injury whilst serving in the Armed Forces.
As an Army Reserve Nurse I have served in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan and have witnessed first hand the actions of our exceptionally brave men and women in conflict zones; carrying out acts of bravery that our civilian population would never appreciate.
Whilst I can feel the sadness and pain for his fiancé and family, the suggestion of a memorial in The Garden of Remembrance in Alexandra Park would seem to be a more fitting place to remember him.
Caroline Whittaker RRC TD MSc
Lt Col
Second in Command
203 (Welsh) Field Hospital
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