Blackpool Celebrates Third Annual Veterans Day with National Event

Today the third annual Veterans Day will be marked across the U.K. in a series of events. The events will celebrate the contribution made by our veterans of all ages in conflicts both past and present and remember those who did not return. The National Veterans Day event is taking place in Blackpool, where the council has planned ten 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 acrobatic competitions, and a Veterans Badge Challenge in which veterans will complete challenges including abseiling down Blackpool Tower, and diving to the bottom of a shark tank, to retrieve their badges. Night time parachute drops and exhibitions of military vehicles also form part of the series of events.

As part of the celebration, Minister for Veterans, Derek Twigg and Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, will both be visiting the National Veterans Day event in Blackpool. General Sir Richard Dannatt will take the salute at the Veterans Parade and Derek Twigg will present a number of former Service personnel with their Veterans Badges. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall will also be attending.

Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Derek Twigg, said: “It is a great honor for me to be involved in today’s Veterans Day celebrations and to present badges to some of our many veterans who all deserve recognition for the great work they have done in serving our country.

“Veterans are of all ages and come from a variety of different backgrounds, but what they have in common is that they have served our country with dedication and a sense of pride. Veterans have not only honored their commitment to defend our country’s interests in Service, they have also used their skills and experiences to enrich their local communities. Veterans Day, is a chance to recognise the achievements of those veterans who live amongst us and of those who have fallen.” Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, said:

“In taking the salute at the Veterans Day parade in Blackpool today, I will be acknowledging the courage, loyalty and selfless commitment that veterans have shown to the United Kingdom and I will do so on behalf of the current generation of servicemen and women who look up to our veterans for the example that they have set.

“I am glad that today in Blackpool and right across the country, people are recognizing and celebrating the achievements of our veterans and the contribution that they have made while serving and subsequently to their communities. Veterans Day has now become an established part of the calendar and I would like to pay tribute to all those in Blackpool as well as throughout the country who have organized events to honor the millions of men and women who have served the United Kingdom over the years.”

Cllr Maxine Callow, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Regeneration at Blackpool Council, added:

“Blackpool is extremely proud to be hosting the National Veterans Day event and have decked the streets in red, white and blue for the occasion. “We have a whole host of events planned to give a warm welcome to Veterans young and old from across the UK. Local businesses have been so welcoming and we are also delighted to be providing people who have a veterans badge with a concessionary booklet offering them discounts in the town.”

Source: MoD

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