According to the local television, there is some uproar about the (£ 8-00) charge for veterans to attend the meeting dedicated to their efforts on D-Day.

Would be interesting to find out what their reasoning is behind this less than favourable bit of PR.

FD

Let's all write to the Imperial War Museum asking them not to charge the veterans a penny for attending the commemoration of their own courage and sacrifice.

I gather that, in Normandy, VIP security for that famous warrior Mr Bush* and others is limiting the access of veterans to some of the very ground over which they fought.

Whilst writing this, don't forget Project Propeller at North Weald on 3rd July. These events will diminish over time: Radio 4 estimated yesterday that veterans of WW2 are dying at the rate of 1000 a day.

*hero of the Air National Guard's Defence of the Texan skies from all those Viet Cong bombers that used to raid Dallas

Agree (as I have said elsewhere)

Write to [email protected]


Full story here

Thanks Rustle, I have sent them a polite email. This reflects very poorly on the IWM management.

Email gone and look forward to their reply or even better still a news snippet stating that they saw the error of their ways and that the fee will be waived for these people.

If not and there is a strong show of hands I would be quite happy to do a bit of an 'adopt a veteran' scheme and pay towards the cost of this.

FD

FD, So would I, my grandfather is decorated veteran of Lancaster ops and being ex RAF myself I truly understand and appreciate the freedom we owe to these heroes.

I am shocked that Duxford can even contemplate charging the very people that they are celebrating.

What next, will HM Queen being getting a bill for opening hostpitals!

FD, me too... and email on way. Thanks for highlighting this.

Duxford D Day Veterans

You would think that IWM would want the veterans to feel like VIP guests for the day. So instead they shoot themselves in the foot for the sake of the extra insignificant revenue.

Its not just IWM - Sandown and others at best are just doing OAP rates. Email sent.

MAF

I've just emailed them, too. They'll not get another penny from me unless they reconsider this very myopic decision.

As ex RAF aircrew, it does really hit home how little valued servicemen are!

Stik

Not knowing the full facts, I'm desperately trying to avoid a 'knee-jerk' reaction to this, but it's very difficult to envisage any justification for such a charge.

Anyone from IWM care to comment?

email away...
lets hope they see sense

Flyin'Dutch',

Many thanks for bringing this to our attention. Email dispatched this morning.

Best wishes,

BH

To every action, there is an equal and opposite....

As I understand it, this is the first time that IWM Duxford have made concessions on the admission fees to veterans, with the exceptions of the 'invited guests' seen at Flying Legend in previous years. Although these invited guests have in the past been 'expected' to take part in various activities such as the flight line parade, book signings, etc. Veterans per se have always paid the standard or OAP admission price if there is one.

So the veterans have never really had a completely free lunch, so to speak.

Therefore, in the cold light of day, what Duxford are doing is actually a good thing, in that they are recognising ALL the veterans, not just the invited few.

Where Duxford have c0cked it up, is that rather than reducing the admission for veterans and then publicising the fact, my own opnion is that they should have abolished it completely. After all, as a good friend of mine has already said on the FlyPast forum, what is 8 quid compared to the sacrifices made by the veterans?

Ultimately, we all still owe a huge debt to these men, and always will. I think Duxford do recognise that fact, and they have made a gesture with genuine good intent, but it's been percieved as a 'half measure', and the publicity surrounding it has really only resulted in firing a metaphorical bullet straight through the IWM's foot....

Has ANYBODY heard anything at all from IWM?

I wonder if anyone actually checks that email address. Maybe best to send hard copy.

I have sent an email and copy by post.

But I do hope it is a junior clerical decision and not a management one

Tony

Given that the war ended nearly 60 years ago and that aircrew were probably 18? at the time, there probably aren't that many still alive to enjoy a 'free' show.

Come on, don't be small minded, give these people the respect they deserve and charge ZERO. After all, they could have paid with their lives back then.

Here is an example of IWM generosity: Spotters get in free. Heroes pay.

http://www.btinternet.com/~zola25/Duxford.htm

R,

Nope, I haven't heard anything yet.

FD