2007/06/27 Veterans Day Badge Presentation Staffordshire 27 June 2007

Thank you Charlie (Charlie Bagot Jewitt - Chief Executive of the National Memorial Arboretum). Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to our Veterans. And a special welcome to the children who have joined us here today.

It's a great pleasure to have the chance to join in your celebrations here today. The National Memorial Arboretum is a wonderful setting - a living memorial of over 44,000 trees which gives a huge range of people and associations the chance to commemorate the sacrifices made by thousands of servicemen and women in service of this country. And while this is a place of remembrance it is also a place of celebration - of everything that our service personnel have achieved in service of our country over the years.

Today is a chance to say "Thank you" to you - our Veterans. Men and women who have made a unique contribution in service to this country. Men and women - of every generation, from all sorts of backgrounds and from across the country - who continue to bring those same qualities of commitment, selflessness and courage to their everyday civilian lives. And you are a powerful force - the Veterans Community in this country today - including families - numbers some 10 million people.

My job as Veterans Minister is to ensure that you are well supported and receive plenty of advice and guidance. The Service Charities are our valued partners in this drive - they do a tremendous job in championing our Veterans. Organisations like the Royal British Legion, who manage the National Memorial Arboretum here in Staffordshire. The volunteers who give their time here are playing an important role in ensuring the Arboretum has become a national focus of Remembrance. Thank you.

The Veterans Badge is a vital symbol of our gratitude as a nation. It was originally launched in May 2004, and eligibility currently covers the period up until 1984. Years that included The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the Falklands Campaign - and I know that this month's 25th Anniversary of that campaign has been marked here at the Arboretum. It is a recognition of your commitment to defend our country - a level of commitment and resolve that continues to be the bedrock of our Defence effort in this country today. Your achievements have laid the foundations for today's Armed Forces. Like the men and women who I have met in Iraq and Afghanistan - consummate professionals doing a great job in very difficult circumstances.

Today I have the privilege to present the Veterans Badge to five Veterans who have made an important contribution to this country, and the peace and prosperity we enjoy today. Their combined years of service spans over half a century. Two of them are based here at the Arboretum. Your Chief Executive - Charlie Bagot Jewitt - served for 22 years with the Royal Navy. Randie Cush - your Education Administrator served in the Royal Signals and is a Veteran of Northern Ireland. They are joined by Andy Bennett, late of the Royal Corps of Signals and another Northern Ireland Veteran; and David Langston of the Army Catering Corps and Tony Slater who served for 15 years in the Royal Engineers. Both men also served in Northern Ireland.

Ladies and Gentlemen - we owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude. Thank you.