VETERANS are clearly delighted they are heading for a big day in Blackpool.
Oliver Shillitoe, formerly of 12 Regiment Royal Artillery and now a police community support officer in the town, accepted the Veterans Day flag on behalf of the Fylde Ex-Service Liaison Committee and the council.
The 24-year-old who served in Ira
q, Cyprus and Northern Ireland during his six years of service, said: "I think Veterans' Day is a good way to get kids involved and people do have perceptions that veterans are usually older people and it is important to realise the role of younger veterans."
Fellow veteran Jim Baker, an 85-year-old Second World War marine and president of the Fylde Ex-Service Liaison Committee, joined him in London to hear the resort had beaten off competition from Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
He said: "I'm very proud of my home town and of the hard work of the committee and the council.
"It's right we should have this honour. I can't wait to meet all the ex-servicemen and women from across the country in Blackpool this summer.
"It's important the younger generation of veterans who have earned their stripes in their own battles come through the ranks and take over as we old boys start to fall off the perch to make sure what they have done for their country is remembered and those who made the ultimate sacrifice are remembered.
"It is terrible that returning soldiers today from Afghanistan and Iraq often get a poor welcome home."
Sgt Jason Henderson, a representative from 12 Regiment Royal Artillery, said: "As the Lancashire and Cumbria Gunners the regiment is looking forward to marching through Blackpool, for many they will be home, in front of their family and friends."
Richard Clayton, 47, a former RAF policeman turned Royal Mail manager from St Annes, said: "I think it is important, especially with the ongoing conflicts, that everyone in the armed forces is remembered and treated with respect."
While John Murphy, 53, from Bispham and formerly with 1 Gloucester regiment, added: "I didn't think we'd get it because Blackpool always seems to miss out but I'm really pleased we did."
Gordon Marsden, Blackpool South MP, said: "Other parts of the country have one day for veterans. In Blackpool we've had a week of events every year and Blackpool is a vibrant town so it's understandable that veterans like meeting here."
