Tuesday 9th March 2004
Since early this year, World War II veterans who want to travel to France for the anniversary of the D-Day landings can apply for free one-year passports through their veterans´ organisations. Veterans, their spouses, war widows and widowers will all be eligible for the special passports, which are being offered to help keep down the costs of the journey for the anniversary celebrations.
Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes said:
"The bravery of those who fought in the Second World War must never be forgotten. Their courage and sacrifices changed the course of history and liberated Europe from Nazi oppression. This year is the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings and many of those who fought for their country want to visit France to remember and honour their fallen colleagues. We must help as many veterans as possible to attend the remembrance events. I am therefore very pleased that we have been able to waive the fees and we will be able to provide the veterans with special, free, one-year passports."
Leslie Frost, Chairman of the Normandy Veterans Association, said:
"We are very grateful for the gesture on the part of the Government in securing free passports for veterans who otherwise might find it financially difficult to go to Normandy this year. The 60th anniversary is very important to the veterans because our ages, mostly in our 80s and 90s, mean it would definitely be the last occasion on which we go in large numbers to Normandy to have services in the cemeteries and remember our comrades who were killed and didn´t come back. We want to make it a fitting occasion for the men and women who were in Normandy who changed the course of history leading to the eventual downfall of Nazism."
Brigadier Ian Townsend, Secretary General of the Royal British Legion, said:
"I very much welcome the provision of free one-year passports for veterans attending the D Day 60th Anniversary commemoration in France. It is a most generous gesture by the Government and the Passport Service, and will be much appreciated by all those who will now be able to attend."
Many of the veterans last got passports for the remembrance events of the 50th anniversary and these will no longer be valid for this year´s anniversaries.
