Local MP Calls for Help for Veterans to Commemorate 70th Anniversary of D-Day

Tamworth’s MP, Christopher Pincher, has called on the Ministry of Defence to help Normandy Veterans commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-day in 1944 by providing support for their families and carers to make what may well be their final trip to Normandy to pay their respects to friends and fellow servicemen who lost their lives.

Other governments are planning to help their frail former D-Day servicemen to make the journey to the beaches and Christopher has said the UK Government should follow suit.

Mr Pincher said, “As the anniversary is now little more than a year away, I have asked colleagues in the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Culture, Media and Support to ensure that our personnel who saw active service are offered similar support as to that offered by US and French Government’s to their veterans”.

In response Veterans Minister, Mark Francois MP, said that lottery funding should be available to provide support for ex servicemen to travel to France.

Afterwards Mr Pincher said, “I will continue to talk to local constituents, veteran groups and representatives from Government and ensure that all those involved in D-day will be able to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of D-day in the most appropriate way.”

The 70th Anniversary of D- day is the 6th June 2014.