GALLERY Veterans and their families today joined current servicemen in Suffolk and Essex to remember fallen heroes and those seriously injured whilst fighting for their country.

VETERANS and their families today joined current servicemen in Suffolk and Essex to remember fallen heroes as well as those seriously injured whilst fighting for their country.

A helicopter fly-past marked National Veterans' Day at Wattisham Airfield as tribute was paid to those who have put their lives on the line in battle through the ages.

The Ipswich branches of The Royal Naval Association, The British Korean Veterans Association and The Royal British Legion, as well as The Royal British Legion branch in Needham Market were represented at the ceremony.

It took the form of a church service followed by a tour round the airfield where the veterans were shown the old and new Apache Helicopters currently stationed at Wattisham, as well as the museum

Meanwhile in Colchester the third annual Veterans Day was marked in the town by a special service at St Peter's Church on North Hill that was preceded by a march down the High Street.

Among those paying tribute were town MP Bob Russell, Colchester garrison Commander Colonel Tony Philips and town mayor Peter Crowe.

Afterwards, the congregation gathered at the Town Hall for refreshments.

Mr Crowe said: “We had a coffee morning for them last year, but we thought this year we must do it properly.

“It was a first-class service at the church and I'm delighted with it. I think the recent events add a certain poignancy to the day.”

He said the deaths of six soldiers from the town serving in Afghanistan in the past three weeks were made even more tragic as it was likely there would be more to come.

He added: “I'm just counting the days until they come home in October.”