Armed Forces Champion
609. Alex Baxter
Alex Baxter, from Grimsby, volunteers full time at the Armed Forces Community Covenant headquarters in Cleethorpes.
Alex organises all civil military activities on Remembrance Sunday and Armed Forces Day, runs drop in centres for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and supports veterans to adjust to civilian life. On Remembrance Sunday Alex organised a powerful art installation of 10,000 poppies constructed by local school children to commemorate the Battle of the Somme.
In a personal letter to Alex, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“You should be very proud of your work as Armed Forces Champion for North East Lincolnshire. Your brilliant coordination of the Armed Forces Day national event this year did the country proud. The spectacular poppy garden you and your dedicated volunteers have created is a wonderful tribute to all the brave men and women who have fallen or risked their lives to protect us.”
Alex said:
“I am absolutely overwhelmed and flabbergasted but at the same time extremely honoured to have been selected to receive this most prestigious award; I am struck by a combination of emotions with which I have hitherto been unfamiliar. It’s a delight to be recognised and a privilege to be able to accept – thank you.”