Sheffield veterans and cadets plan salute for frontline staff

NHS staff pose for seflies ahead of the national "clap for carers" to show thanks for the work of Britain's National Health Service (NHS) workers and frontline medical staff around the country as they battle with the novel coronavirus pandemic(Photo by ANTHONY DEVLIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Alongside the veterans, British Legion members and cadets will also be scout groups from the city, which have agreed to take part.

The tribute will take place on Thursday (April 23), following on from the weekly ‘clap for carers’ and will see everybody involved standing outside their houses in uniform and medals, where possible, and salute everybody involved on the front line facing COVID-19.

Pat Davey, chairman of the Sheffield and District Joint Council of Ex-Service Associations, said: “Ex-service people put their lives on their line whenever they go into a conflict situation on behalf of this country, so we know what it is like.

“We want to honour the men and women who are on the front line fighting this horrible invisible enemy, coronavirus.

“We think this is one of the best ways we can do that. We want to do a little bit extra from the military after the clap to thank our civilian counterparts, who are fighting and sometimes losing their lives in a battle for us all.

“Many of our veterans are part of vulnerable groups, who are most at risk from coronavirus.

“We are not able to do much to help at the moment while we are in lockdown, but we hope this tribute shows our gratitude.”

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