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Freedom parade for the troops
SOLDIERS who served in Afghanistan will be given a heroes' welcome with a special freedom parade later this month.
Members of 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) will take part in a number of parades in towns across the county between Tuesday June 17, and Saturday June 21.
The one in Scarborough will be at 10.30am on Saturday June 21, followed by Bridlington's at 2.30pm.
Captain Henry Bowden, who is originally from Bridlington and now based at Weeton Barracks in Lancashire, said it was a chance for the battalion to exercise its right to march through the centre of towns which it had been granted the freedom.
He said: "This is as well as allowing members of the public to show their appreciation for the bravery and hard work that the soldiers of 2 Yorks displayed on the recent tour of Afghanistan."
Captain Bowden said the soldiers carried out the demanding role of mentoring the Afghan National Army (ANA) throughout their six-month deployment to Helmand Province, in southern Afghanistan.
"The ANA are still in their infancy and 2 Yorks were called on to demonstrate the countless years of experience that the British Army has to offer," he said.
The battalion's Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) worked out of the ANA's own Camp Shorabak.
Seven-man sections integrated into ANA company groups in forward operating bases and patrol bases throughout the whole of the province.
Capt Bowden said: "From these locations they advised the Afghan commanders on the tactics required to fight the Taliban in the demanding Afghan terrain. The battalion were heavily involved in Operation Mar Karadad during which the town of Musa Qal'eh was taken from the Taliban.
"Progress in the town so far includes the reopening of the local school and the completion of work to fix the local telecommunications mast; work to re-open the town's health centre continues.
"Significant finds of drugs, arms and munitions have been disposed of."
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Weather for Scarborough
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
