Friday 29 May 2009

D-Day Veterans not going back to Normandy because…

What a foul-up. This is Blackpool all over and one of the reasons why the greatest number of former service personnel have nothing to do the cabals of Former Service Associations.

First the Vets were being subsidised by the Heroes Return Charity, costs to cover a carer and one immediate family relative. Then a Blackpool Councillor Julian Mineur – sorry folk I ain’t making this up - gets involved and it all turns to doggee poo. The last time I saw Councillor Manure in action was in Rhyl where he was insulting a rather eloquent, distinguished former Women’s Army veteran who promised if that if he called her girlie once more she would smack his face. She was prevented from assaulting him by a former Royal Marine who was only too willing to do the lady’s bidding. The Councillor was trying to sell the Veterans Badge to the veteran and was getting a hostile reception along with the Labour MP for North Wales. It is amazing how these political types do not understand community or service unless it is wrapped in a wonder financial package for themselves. Expenses! Don’t mention expenses!

Not only will some of the vets not be going, but Association heads with no affiliation to D Day, will be. I wonder who is subsidising their sojourn whilst neglecting the true heroes from the 1940’s?

One unnamed veteran is so distraught he was almost at fisty-cuffs with his association official. The veteran was and had been a regular, one of the original commandos, a man distinguished in action all through Europe and in the Far East; yet he is being side-lined for others who did a dogs-watch but who is the chair of an association where many former regulars refuse to associate.

To get the heroes back onto the beach in Normandy is not a logistical problem, but it can be when the inept and self interest parties forget that their association is there to help others, not themselves. What do these people think they are? Politicians!!!

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