Veterans' Day UK
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Veterans' Day in the United Kingdom is an annual event celebrated on the 27 June to commemorate the service of British men and women in Her Majesty's Armed Forces. Veterans' Day is a recent creation, being first observed in 2006, yet marks a more historic date - the first investiture of the Victoria Cross, which happened in Hyde Park, London, in 1857.[1] It is not a public holiday in the UK. The 2008 event will be held in Blackpool as part of their Annual Veterans' Week.
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[edit] Origins
Plans for a Veterans' Day were announced in February 2006 by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, who said the aim was to ensure the contribution of Veterans was never forgotten. The day is marked across the United Kingdom by local ceremonies and the presentation of medals to living ex-servicemen and women.
In June 2007, Member of Parliament Jim Devine tabled a House of Commons Early Day Motion calling for the day to be a public holiday. [2]
[edit] Relation to existing events
The introduction of Veterans' Day does not affect observance of the main remembrance events in the United Kingdom, centred around Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday in November, which commemorate the end of the First World War in 1918.
Veterans' Day in the UK is generally held to be modelled after Veterans Day in the United States.[3]
[edit] External links
Veterans Day UK website - Official website for Veterans Day 2008.
Veterans-UK.info - Bringing together services for veterans.
[1]- Veterans Week celebrations in Blackpool 2008.
