Remembrance Day Bank Holiday

[The Poison Dwarf]

This is the text of an email sent to me by my niece, if you feel that it is a worthwhile venture, then please follow the link, add your name to the petition and pass the info on to any friends, colleagues or acquaintances whom you think may be interested:

Bank Holiday in November

Number 10 Downing Street has approved a petition that was launched requesting a new public holiday falling on the Monday after Remembrance Sunday in November each year.
To be known as the National Remembrance Holiday, it's got three aims:

1. To emphasise the remembrance of those servicemen and women who have given, and continue to give, their lives for Britain
2. To remind people of the importance of protecting our Nation and what it stands for;
3. To break that 3 month period between the August Public Holiday and Christmas when there are currently no long weekends, especially as the UK has fewer public holidays than most European Countries.

If you agree to the idea, please sign up to the petition - it doesn't take long - and it would be great if you were to forward the link to other people as well. If you are not interested, just hit the delete key. This is not just about another bank holiday, but more importantly about having a designated day to remember all those people that sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
THIS IS A NOTABLE PETITION THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ASKED FOR PLEASE SIGN IF YOU WANT AN EXTRA BANK HOLIDAY.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/remembermonday/
PASS THIS ONTO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK

[doubledolphins]

The British Legion is against the idea.

[Dan Gerous]

Got to agree with the British Legion on this. Rememberance Sunday and Nov 11th are the time for remebering the sacrifice of all those who gave there lives, its not an excuse for a long weekend.

[Ray Dahvectac]

Not in favour

Think this one has been done before - several times ...here here and here at least.

Have to agree with what others have said, a Bank Holiday tagged on to the end of that weekend would do nothing to increase any national sense of remembrance - in fact the effects would likely be quite the opposite and it would become just another extended weekend of drinking and shopping.

[The Poison Dwarf]

OK guys, if you are not in favour, that's fine, it's a personal choice and it may not happen anyway, many petitions on other, arguably more important, issues have fallen on deaf ears(?).

However, I have seen nothing from the RBL expressing an opinion either way, not by email, nor on their website nor, indeed, by snail mail (yes, I am a member).

I simply pass on information and I must emphasise what I said in the preamble "IF you feel that it is a worthwhile venture..."

I have no intention of generating a big debate on the subject, people can make their own minds up.

Regards

TPD

[cazatou]

I understand that it is the stated policy of the EU that all member states have the same number of Public Holidays.

11th November is a Public Holiday in Belgium, France & Poland - as well as Canada & USA. Perhaps HMG want the "extra" holiday to be on a day that will cause minimum disruption to "the City"?

[Evening Star]

Sure I am not alone in receiving the following reply in response to this petition:

More than 500,000 people have signed this petition, and we are grateful to you all for taking the time to do so.

Your support is a clear sign of the strength of feeling across the United Kingdom that we must do more as a country to recognise the contribution of our Armed Forces, and in particular those who have died or been injured in the service of their country.

The Government recently published The National Recognition Study (new window), undertaken by Quentin Davies MP, which looks at the ways in which the Government, other institutions and the country as a whole can do more to recognise the service of our Armed Forces and Veterans.

One of its recommendations was the institution of a special British Armed Forces and Veterans Day, which would complement the events held around Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday in November to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of our country.

These proposals are being given careful consideration by the Government, alongside other representations we have received to institute a new 'British Day', and as part of these deliberations, we will of course examine the case for introducing a new public holiday.

There is considerable debate amongst supporters of a new special public holiday to remember our Armed Forces and Veterans or our fallen servicemen about when in the year such a day should take place.

While there are a very large number of people - including signatories to this petition - who believe the Monday after Remembrance Sunday is the best option, there are others - including the Royal British Legion (new window) - who do not support that proposal, because they are concerned that a public holiday then would not be in keeping with the solemnity and special status of the Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

Quentin Davies MP has suggested holding the new day close to the current Veterans' Day at the end of June, while others have suggested holding the day to coincide with the anniversaries of the D-Day Landings in early June or of V.E. Day in early May.

We greatly appreciate your contribution to this ongoing debate, and whatever the final outcome, we hope that all signatories to this petition will see that we have very much taken on board their desire to see much greater national recognition for our Armed Forces.

Plus point is the number of people who signed and the promise that a day is under consideration. Shame about it not being Remembrance Day. To be honest, I find the response of the Royal British Legion slightly surprising as I am sure such a day would be treated with appropriate dignity.

[NURSE]

There are far better ways of making rememberance Sunday special for example bringing it into line with easter sunday and christmas day (if falling on a sunday) IE having no shops open or sports fixtures being played. That would release police to properly marshal RBL parades instead of them being cancelled as the police are needed to cover a local football match.

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by cazatou

11th November is a Public Holiday in Belgium, France & Poland - as well as Canada & USA.

11th November exactly not a gash Monday. OK, some years it will be 'inconvenient' and fall on a Wednesday or Thursday with many workers no doubt 'faire le pont'.

But as many firms work over bank holidays there is no reason to suppose that it would affect the city. The only thing that would make the 11th special was if all shops and petrol stations, with the exception of florists, closed on that day and only restaurants and bar could open but with restricted hours - say bars 1800-2300 and restaurants 12-14 and 1800-2300.

Never happen.

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

If the additional Bank Holiday happens, whichever "cause" provides its title, I think it would provide the Government with a lasting symbol of its regard and gratitude to the Services. I also think that it would be a total sham as most MPs display indifference to anything relating to Defence, with many of the Left or Liberal inclination demonstrating a distinct hostility towards it. That possibility alone would dissuade me from supporting the proposal as I would not wish to provide the Government with the opportunity to gain credit for an act of shameful dishonesty. I also agree with many of you who recognise it would become just another day to binge shop or get noisily p**sed with no particular honour to anyone.

If we must have one, I think the idea presented by Pontius N is excellent.

[Big Tudor]

Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator

say bars 1800-2300

Problem there though PN is that most Rememberance Day parades finish around lunchtime, and all of the parades I was ever involved with culminated with raised glassses in the mess/ local bar/ RBL. By forcing one issue you end up quashing established rituals. Can't win really.

I agree with the sentiment of having the day recognised, however I don't think British mentality would allow it to be held in the esteem that is required. Too many groups would use it to their own ends to try and make political or personal points.

Also, the countries that celebrate it on mainland Europe have the memories that their countries were overrun by the Nazis. The fact that they have recognised the day for so long means that the reason behind the public holiday is well entrenched in the national psyche. It isn't just an extra day off for them.

[NURSE]

I do agree with Big Tudor lets get remberance Sunday made special. And find another reason for the Bank Holidays needed to bring it into line with the rest of Europe. But like the Liberation day commerations in former occupied countries lets base it on our history rather then PC reasons. Given the Channel Islands already celebrate their Liberation how about that?

[Chough]

Whilst I like the idea of another Bank Holiday, I note from Hansard that an extra day would cost the economy around £2.5 billion. Let's forgo the extra day and put this money on the defence budget, I'm sure Des would jump at the idea.....

[x213a]

I dont think bank holidays respect or reflect what they may be intended to anyway.

Whatever your campaign medals & operations..would you be happy with several thousand chavs using it as a thinly veiled excuse to hold an extended pissup on the back of?

I know I wouldn't.

[x213a]

The term I was looking for is "reflected glory".

Some people I do not deem fit to walk this earth and I will object to any of them taking advantage of anything that has been achieved by our AF.

[cazatou]

I seem to recall that HM's Armed Forces and their Allies spent several long years in the last Century resisting the Forces of those Nations that deemed others as "not fit to walk this Earth".

Perhaps you have never been to such places as Bergen-Belsen, Dachau or Auchwitz. If that is so then I suggest that you should arrange a visit - remember that many members of the Allied Armed Forces also died in such places.