BIG LOTTERY FUND AND HEROES RETURN 2 PROGRAMME

That this House welcomes the announcement of further funding from the Big Lottery Fund to support Second World War veterans wishing to attend overseas anniversary events throughout 2009 and 2010 to commemorate the end of the Second World War; notes that the Heroes Return 2 programme builds on over £16 million of previous funding from the Big Lottery Fund's Heroes Return programme that helped over 39,000 veterans, spouses, widows and carers to make commemorative trips to overseas Second World War battlesites; fully acknowledges the sacrifices that British servicemen and women made during the Second World War; recognises their bravery in defending the United Kingdom; and is pleased that this is rightly recognised through funding that will enable veterans to participate in commemorative visits across the world to mark the anniversaries of events that led to the end of the Second World War.