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Bob Ainsworth MP welcomes new tribute to Veterans

Coventry North East MP Bob Ainsworth welcomed the announcement that the Veterans’ Badge will be extended.

Defence Secretary John Reid and Veterans Minister Don Touhig have announced that the popular Veterans’ Badge will be extended to all those who served in the armed forces up to 1954. Previously, the badge had been issued to veterans of the First and Second World War and their war widows.

Bob Ainsworth said “This is good news. As we remember the sacrifices so many made serving our country, we must continue supporting all veterans, young and old.

“I previously helped a number of my constituents who served in the First and Second World Wars to get a badge and if anyone in my constituency has now become eligible following the recent extension, please contact my London office on 0207 219 4047 and I will arrange for a badge to be sent to you”.

Defence Secretary John Reid said: “It has always been our intention that the Veterans Badge will be available to all veterans. To make the issuing of badges simpler, applications to date have only been accepted from those who served during the First and Second World Wars. I am very pleased that we are extending this to include those who served up until the end of 1954.”

Veterans Minister Don Touhig said: “The many heroic acts and sacrifices of our veterans and their families must never be forgotten. This is why we established the Veterans Badge in the first place. It has proved enormously popular, with over 130,000 issued last year.”