War widows travel funding will continue

WAR WIDOWS TRAVEL FUNDING WILL CONTINUE Legion welcomes Government announcement The Royal British Legion welcomes today's Government announcement of a two-year extension to the scheme that enables war widows to visit their husbands' graves, wherever they are in the world. The announcement was made by Dr Lewis Moonie, Minister for Veterans Affairs. Under the scheme, which is run by The Royal British Legion, the Government covers seven-eighths of the costs for war widows to make the journey with the Legion's Remembrance Travel service. Each year, Remembrance Travel organises world-wide visits to war graves, memorials and battlefields for thousands of people - ranging from relatives of Service people killed in action overseas, to people looking for a different travel experience. Since the Legion joined up with the Government in 1985 the war widows scheme has enabled over 4,000 women to visit the place where their husband is buried. Destinations have ranged from Holland and Germany to Egypt, Tunisia and even Burma. "We are delighted that the Government funding will continue because it means so much to the wives of men who died serving their country," says Piers Storie-Pugh, Head of Remembrance Travel. " Many women have lived for decades with the grief of loosing their husband in action overseas. A visit to his grave often gives them an enormous release from years of sadness, as they are able to say goodbye to their loved one at their final resting place. "The scheme not only helps financially, but enables widows to make a journey that they felt unable to take on alone - particularly in the case of such far-flung destinations as Burma or North Africa. Remembrance Travel offers a complete package of transport, accommodation and guided tours. The team also liaises directly with countries to arrange access to specific cemeteries and memorials. No matter how remote the location, we will do everything we can to ensure people get there." Dr Moonie said; "When I announced the current extension to the scheme in June 2000, I paid tribute to the excellent work which the Royal British Legion does in administering it. Since I have become Minister for Veterans I have become even move appreciative of the value of this work." The scheme applies to women widowed from 1914 to the end of 1967. For more information contact Remembrance Travel on 01622 716729/182 or email remembrancetravel@britishlegion.org.uk or visit www.remembrancetravel.com ENDS For CASE STUDIES and further information, contact Georgia Veats in The Royal British Legion Press Office on 020 7973 7237 Notes to Editors: The Royal British Legion is Britain's leading ex-Service charity protecting the welfare, interests and memory of ex-Service people and their families and dependants since 1921. Some 13 million people - of all ages - are eligible to approach the Legion for support, ranging from resettlement and war pensions advice to benevolence grants. Issued by: The Press Office, The Royal British Legion, 48 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JY Tel: 0207 973 7265/7296/7292 Fax: 0207 973 7239 ISDN Broadcast studio: 0207 321 0476 (By prior arrangement) Internet: www.britishlegion.org.uk Legion Releases can also be downloaded from http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/about5.cfm ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/06/11/20020611BIT00820/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/06/11/20020611BIT00820/wkr0002.pdf