Afghanistan war widow Brenda Hale has made a heartfelt pledge to fight for other Army wives after she was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Choking back tears after her emotional victory in Lagan Valley, the mother of two said her husband, Captain Mark Hale, would have been proud.
"He would be very proud of me, but not surprised," she said. "He always knew I had a voice, he had to listen to it."
Capt Hale, 42, from Bournemouth, Dorset, died in an explosion in Sangin, Helmand province, in August 2009, while helping his colleagues who were caught in a roadside blast. The battle group logistics officer, who looked after troops suffering post-traumatic stress, was serving with the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, based at Ballykinlar in Co Down.
Ms Hale said he laid down his life for his friends and she was inspired by him to run for election after campaigning for better treatment of army widows.
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/war-widows-pledge-for-army-wives-15152756.html#ixzz1LqE4SJQu
