Rayleigh and Wickford MP and Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois, recently paid his respects in person at a memorial which honours Lieutenant Aaron Lewis, of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, who fell fighting in Afghanistan several years ago.
Mark was visiting the Citadel in Plymouth, which is the Headquarters of 29 Commando Regiment RA and where a "Commando Gunner" memorial has been erected with the names of those members of the Regiment who have fallen in battle. One of the panels on this monument contains the names of those who have been killed while serving in Afghanistan, and Lieutenant Lewis is remembered therein.
Aaron Lewis was one of Mark’s constituents and Rochford District Council, working in collaboration with developer David Wilson Homes, recently named a road in the Clements Gate Development, in Hawkwell, "Aaron Lewis Close", after the fallen local hero. Mark performed the naming ceremony that day.
Commenting on his visit to the memorial Mark Francois said:
"I was on a visit to the Royal Marines and related units in Plymouth in my role as Armed Forces Minister and, as Aaron was a constituent of mine, I wanted to take the opportunity to pay my respects in person at the Citadel Commando Gunner Memorial. Having seen it, it is a very fitting tribute to those people who gave their lives in the service of their country, including Aaron."