Having read so many letters about the George Cross on our flag I feel I must put in a few words on this subject since I was born an Englishman and am now a very proud Maltese with Maltese children and grandchildren.

Norman E. Grech seems to think it is only the elderly who are proud to have the George Cross on our flag. He objects to British "imperialistic elderly people" referring to our island as The George Cross Island. Let me assure Mr Grech that they do so because they love Malta, because they served in Malta during the 1940-43 siege. They do so because the younger generation of Britons are proud that their father or grandfather gave his life in defence of our little island home. They call us the George Cross Island with a sense of pride and belonging, not to insult.

Believe me, I know, as I meet the hundreds of George Cross Island Association veterans who come over every year to be reunited with their Maltese colleagues who served with them during those terrible years which Mr Grech knows nothing about.

They come over for a remembrance service to pay tribute to the Maltese civilians and servicemen and women who gave their lives so that Mr Grech can live in peace and write what he writes without being sent to a concentration camp and without the Nazi emblem on our flag.

I myself was in Malta for just one month on bomb disposal and remember the horrors of finding the human remains of Maltese and Britons lying side by side in the ruins of smashed buildings. Like all those other veterans I am proud to have played just a very small part of the George Cross being awarded to my country.

Mr Grech objects to the George Cross on our flag and hopes that he lives long enough to see this finally happening. If that happens I am glad to say we veterans will not be around.

Incidentally, Mr Grech should get his history right - George VI did not die "70-odd years ago", it was 51!

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