A squadron of volunteer soldiers is set to be given the freedom of Oadby and Wigston, to recognise more than 200 years of service.
The Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry Prince Albert's Own Squadron, is the Territorial Army group linked to the 9th/12th Royal Lancers.
Members have recently returned from Afghanistan and to mark the granting of freedom, they will march through the borough in May.
Lance Corporal Dave Hanna is looking forward to marching shoulder to shoulder with other reserve soldiers.
The 28-year-old, of Leicester Forest East, said: "We are really excited to be given the freedom to march – especially on home turf.
"It will be a really proud moment, and makes all the hard work worthwhile."
L/Cpl Hanna served as a regular with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards for six years, twice deployed to Iraq, before his daughter Yvie, now four, was born. He is now a supermarket security guard, and has been a reserve with the Yeomanry for two years.
He added: "I just came back from seven months in Afghanistan in November, where I was working to clear the roads of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and as a sharp shooter. We lost one guy when he stepped on an IED. That was hard.
"My wife, Rebecca, will be so proud to see me march, and my little girl just loves seeing her daddy in uniform."
Freedom of a city, town or district allows the regiment to march through the town, with colours unfurled and a band playing.
Oadby and Wigston Borough Council are to grant the squadron the honour at a council meeting on Thursday.
If approved, about 65 veterans and serving soldiers will march from Blaby Road to Tigers Road, on Saturday, May 19.
Based in South Wigston, the Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry is one of five squadrons who are part of the Royal Yeomanry regiment.
The regiment as a whole has been given freedom of a number of cities, but this is the first time the Leicestershire squadron has been honoured in this way.
The march will honour the soldiers sent to Afghanistan and Iraq in recent conflicts – as well as those who fought in the Boer War in South Africa, and both World Wars.
L/Cpl Ian Coales, who joined the TA six years ago, and works as an Army recruitment officer, was deployed to Cyprus for six months last year.
The 24-year-old, from Eyres Monsell, said: "Sometimes you wonder why you do it, but to be honoured like this definitely makes up for those times.
"We are going to get to show everyone who we are, and what we do, and I can't wait."
Borough mayor, Councillor Linda Broadley, said: "These people risk their lives for our safety. They step away from normal lives, as volunteers, and serve all over the world. We are so proud to honour that."
Taken from Leicester Mercury
