THE inquest into the death of Private Jason Lee Rawstron brings home the sacrifice our armed forces are making every day.

Pte Rawstron, who was from Clayton-le-Moors, was serving with the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan when he was killed.

The hearing was told that he was shot through the eye by a Taliban fighter as he defended a British military compound in Helmand Province.

It is not surprising that the coroner, Michael Singleton, said he was so moved by Pte Rawstron’s sacrifice that he had travelled to the national arboretum to pay his respects.

People can easily forget what our armed forces are doing on a daily basis. Last weekend’s Armed Forces Day was to act as a reminder and allow the public to pay their respects to our servicemen and women.

The war in Afghanistan has been raging for eight years and has long since dropped off the front pages. But when someone like Pte Rawstron is killed while serving his country, it highlights the danger that our soldiers are still facing.

Scores of young people from East Lancashire will currently be fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Hopefully no other families will have to face the anguish experienced by Pte Rawstron’s parents.

They can take solace in the fact that he died a hero. The country owes a huge debt of gratitude to him.