Ranger McCormick remembered at RIR service

Ranger Aaron McCormick (22), from Macosquin, was killed by an improvised explosive device during an operation in November.

Ranger McCormick’s parents and the parents of Ranger David Dalzell and Lance Corporal Stephen McKee joined other dignitaries at the service of remembrance and thanksgiving, which took place on the same weekend as two homecoming parades for soliders held in Ballymena and Lisburn.

Paying their respects to the brave Ulster soldiers was First Minister, Peter Robinson and Secretary of State, Owen Patterson.

Leading the act of remembrance was Macosquin minister, Rev Michael Roemmele, chaplain to the Regiment.

He said: “ Let us remember before almighty God and commend to his sure keeping Ranger Aaron McCormick, Ranger David Dalzell and Lance Corporal Stephen McKee, who died for their country and whose memory we treasure as we remember all who have lived and died in the service of mankind.”

Prior to a minute’s silence, three candels were lit by three colleagues of the deceased in their honour.

In his sermon, the former Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh Robin Eames told the congregation that the entire community shared in the sadness of the regiment following ‘the loss of three brave soliders’ while on duty.

Lord Eames paid tribute to the bravery of the Regiment and told those present that the name of the Regiment stood high ‘in the regard and respect of the British army.’