Blackpool chosen to hold
National Veterans Day celebrations and eligibility to apply for
Veterans Badges extended
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (012/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 29
January 2008
Minister for
Veterans, Derek Twigg announced today that Blackpool has been
chosen to hold this year's National Veterans Day event.
During a ceremony at the Imperial War Museum in London, Mr Twigg
also announced that eligibility to apply for the HM Armed Forces
Veterans Badge and UK Merchant Seafarers Veterans Badge has been
extended to include all those who have served in UK Armed Forces.
This means that veterans of the ongoing operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan are now eligible.
The third annual Veterans Day on 27 June 2008 is a chance for the
nation to recognise the contribution made by veterans of all ages
in conflicts both past and present. A large number of Veterans Day
events, ranging in size, will be taking place across the UK during
the summer.
Derek Twigg, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Veterans
Minister, said:
"We have had a number of excellent bids to host this
year's celebrations, but after careful consideration
Blackpool Council's efforts stood out. I congratulate them
on the excellence of their bid.
"Veterans are of all ages with a variety of different
backgrounds, and they all deserve our recognition. Not only have
they honoured their commitment to defend our country's
interests in Service, they have also used their skills and
experiences to enrich their local communities. With the
establishment of an annual Veterans Day, June 27 is our chance to
recognise the achievements of those veterans who live amongst us."
Blackpool Council has planned nine days of veterans' events
to pay tribute to the contributions veterans make to their
community. Exciting attractions include an Aero GP where veteran
pilots will compete in performing demonstrations of dog fighting
and target bombing, and a Veterans Badge Challenge in which
veterans will attempt to climb Blackpool Tower, and dive to the
bottom of a shark tank to retrieve their badges.
The Ministry of Defence has pledged to fund £25K towards the cost
of Blackpool's celebrations. Funding is also available to
support numerous other events taking place throughout the UK. The
deadline for applying for funding to support Veteran's Day
events is 31 May 2008.
A Veterans Day National Event flag was presented to Blackpool
veteran Oliver Shillitoe, 24, formerly of 12 Regiment Royal
Artillery. Oliver will take the flag back to Blackpool where it
will fly for Veterans Day.
Oliver said:
"I am very proud to accept this flag on behalf of everyone
in Blackpool. As a young veteran myself I am delighted that my
home town is doing so much to recognise and celebrate former
members of the Armed Forces. I am really looking forward to the
week of Veterans activities and events planned around Veterans Day
on June 27."
John Nichol, a former RAF Tornado navigator shot down during the
Gulf War, attended the ceremony to lend his support to Veterans Day.
John said:
"I am proud to call myself a Veteran of the Armed Forces and
I am delighted with the growing success of Veterans Day in giving
recognition to Veterans for the service they have given to their
country and to their community. Congratulations to everyone in
Blackpool who put together their bid, I am sure the range of
events they have planned will be a huge success."
Mayor of Blackpool, Councillor Robert Wynne, said:
"Blackpool is absolutely delighted to have been chosen as
the host for National Veterans Day 2008, it's a great honour
for the town. Blackpool has many historical links with the Armed
Forces and has a special place in the heart of many veterans.
Every year we welcome a large number of Ex-Service Associations
into the resort for their annual reunions.
"We have been holding an annual Veterans Week here in
Blackpool since 2005, and plans are already well underway to make
this year's celebration even more special. We look forward to
welcoming veterans all ages to take part in our celebratory and
commemorative events"
Mr Twigg said:
"The enormous debt that we owe to the veterans who have
faithfully served their country over the years should not be
forgotten. This is why we established the Veterans Badge in 2004.
It has proved enormously popular, with over 550,000 badges issued
to date. I am particularly delighted to be able to include those
who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan where our outstanding
Armed Forces continue to demonstrate their courage and
professionalism in bringing peace and stability to these countries."
Notes to Editors:
1. Bids which met the Veterans Day funding criteria to host the
National Event were also received from Manchester and Liverpool.
The bids were judged against five pre-determined factors. These
were: Veterans contributions past and present; Support for
Veterans; Diversity of Veterans; Intergenerational dialogue; and
Organisational and financial foundations.
2. Further details of the National Veterans Day event in
Blackpool will be announced in due course.
3. Applications forms and guidelines on how to apply for funding
are available on the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency website
at http://www.veterans-uk.info.
Details of all planned Veterans Day activities will appear in the
Calendar of Events at http://www.veterans-uk.info/veteransday08.
This calendar can be accessed by any organiser who wishes to enter
details of their Veterans Day event.
4. The HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge was launched in May 2004
and since then its eligibility has been gradually extended from
the First and Second World War veterans, to whom it was initially
issued, to successive generations of veterans so that all may be
united under one badge. The UK Merchant Seafarers Veterans Badge
was introduced, in 2006, as a special version of the HM Armed
Forces Veterans Badge to reflect the unique relationship that the
Merchant Navy and fishermen have held with the Armed Forces,
during UK military operations, over the years. Today's
extension means that all veterans are now eligible to apply for
these badges from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency. Since
1 February 2005 HM Armed Forces Veterans' Badges have been
given as standard to all personnel leaving Service.
5. Applications for the HM Armed Forces Veteran's Badge
detailing, name, address, date of birth, Service number, period of
service and theatres of service should be sent to Veterans
Services, Service Personnel and Veterans Agency, Norcross,
Blackpool, FY5 3WP.
6. Applications for the UK Merchant Seafarers Veteran's
Badge detailing, name, address, date of birth, Discharge Book
number, periods and theatres of service should be sent to either
the Merchant Navy Association, 9 Saxon Way, Caistor, Market Rasen,
LN7 6SG or Federation of Merchant Mariners, 16 Glebe Road,
Brampton, Huntingdon, PE28 4PH.
7. For more information visit the website http://www.mod.uk