MESSAGES of support for Medway soldiers in the Gulf have been streaming into the offices of Kent Online and our sister newspaper, the Medway Messenger.

Now we are urging you to let our servicemen know you care and send them your message of support.

The Messenger will print as many messages as possible and we will be posting them here on www.kentonline.co.uk.

Some of those serving in the Gulf will be able to access your messages on the website, and we expect many will respond.

Send messages and photographs to: Iraq War Tributes, Medway Messenger, 395 High Street, Chatham ME4 4PG, or e-mail to medwaymessenger@thekmgroup. co.uk.

MESSAGES:

• Rebecca Lister, 22, of Rainham, recently gave birth to daughter, Megan, while her husband Gareth, is serving in Kuwait with the First Royal Irish Regiment.

  "The most important thing is for our servicemen and women to come back safe and as soon as possible.All the families back here are looking forward to seeing them home again, and we're thinking of them constantly."

  Ian and Pam Kingaby's son Stephen Chester, 20, is serving as an NCO chef with the Royal Horse Artillery attached to the Seventh Armoured Brigade. The couple are from Cliffe.

  "We wish all servicemen and women fighting in Iraq the best of luck. Trust your training, be safe, and come back home victorious. Good luck."

  Gillingham MP Paul Clark: "Our troops in the Gulf have my unqualified backing and support.

  "The Royal Engineers, as they are based in Gillingham, are particularly in my thoughts and prayers at this time."

  Jonathan Shaw, MP for Chatham and Aylesford: "Our troops are faced with a difficult situation. We are grateful for their courage and professionalism and they have our total support."
• Medway Mayor Ted Baker: "I pray that the conflict will soon be at an end and look forward to the day when we can welcome them home.

  "So much rests on them. It is truly an enormous responsibility and we should be very proud of them."

  The Rev Allan Smith, chairman of Churches Together in Medway: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you serving in Iraq as you carry out the difficult task you have been assigned. We pray for your safe return, for your families at home waiting for news, and for justice and peace to be established in Iraq."Stephen Link, chief executive of Veterans' Support UK, an organisation which offers practical support for the families of service personnel: "Our centre has decided to provide a support group for those closest to you, where they can come and meet others in the same situation and chat over a cup of tea or coffee and if they wish talk to our welfare team."Michael Pead, joint managing director of North Kent Chamber of Commerce: "There is an inadequacy of words to describe the courage and fortitude of our troops serving in the Gulf. There is an inadequacy of words to describe the pride and esteem in which all of us hold every British service man and woman."