THE mayor of a Suffolk borough has lent his support to the EADT's campaign to honour the heroes who fought for Britain in the D-Day landings.David Lockwood, Mayor of St Edmundsbury, has requested a procession through the heart of historic Bury St Edmunds on June 6 next year – exactly sixty years after 150,000 servicemen marched onto the Normandy beaches.

THE mayor of a Suffolk borough has lent his support to the EADT's campaign to honour the heroes who fought for Britain in the D-Day landings.

David Lockwood, Mayor of St Edmundsbury, has requested a procession through the heart of historic Bury St Edmunds on June 6 next year – exactly sixty years after 150,000 servicemen marched onto the Normandy beaches.

The call comes just days after the EADT launched its Remember Our Heroes campaign, urging the Government to scrap "low key" plans to mark the anniversary, adopting instead a more fitting memorial to the heroes who fought for our freedom.

"We should never forget the past – especially the recent past – and an event to mark the anniversary may help educate people for the future," said Mr Lockwood, who lost an uncle in the war effort.

"I have made some suggestions, asking that the council liaise with the Normandy Veteran's Association to apply for a road closure and stage a procession through town.

"We would then also hope to be able to assist the Association with some sort of fitting event after the procession."

Next year's key anniversary will be the last many surviving veterans can be certain of attending, as the youngest – now aged 77 – will be more than 90 by D-Day's 75th anniversary in 2019.

The Royal British Legion have called for a national day of commemoration, with 108 MPs supporting the move by signing an early-day motion in the House of Commons, pressing the Government to start planning for next year.

The motion asks ministers to "begin preparations now in order that this extremely important and historic event is commemorated appropriately."

Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley, of the Conservative Party, was among those to add his signature to the document.

He said: "D-Day was an enormously significant event during the Second World War involving 150,000 service personnel, and many sacrificed their lives in the service of their country.

"Next year is the last significant anniversary of this great event that many veterans will witness. I call on the Government to make sure that it is commemorated nationally in an appropriate manner."

n To support the EADT's Remember Our Heroes campaign, send a completed coupon to EADT, Remember Our Heroes, 30, Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1AN. The coupons will then be presented to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon.