IPSWICH is set say thank you with style to its war heroes next month thanks to lottery cash, it emerged today. A whopping £13,900 from the Big Lottery Fund has been handed over to the Ipswich Branch of the Royal British Legion to commemorate the end of the Second World War.
IPSWICH is set say thank you with style to its war heroes next month thanks to lottery cash, it emerged today.
A whopping £13,900 from the Big Lottery Fund has been handed over to the Ipswich Branch of the Royal British Legion to commemorate the end of the Second World War.
Legion branch chairman Peter Thompson said: "This money is to say thank you. It is as simple as that."
Veterans will parade in Ipswich town centre on August 21 as part of an open-air drumhead service to mark the end of the conflict.
Mr Thompson said: "This is great news. We can simply say thank you to those who gave up the best years of their lives to give us the freedoms we enjoy today."
On August 29 Christchurch Park will host a 1940s day to celebrate the war years.
Mr Thompson said the money would be used to pay for the events, which would include transport, food, marquee hire and car parking.
The lottery has now pledged more than £37.3 million to commemorate the
struggle and sacrifice of the war.
Head of the Big Lottery Fund in the East of England Sara Betsworth said: "For 18 months now the fund has been funding schemes to help ensure that the lessons of the war and the sacrifices made by the wartime generation are not forgotten.
"We believe that the impact of the schemes has enriched our understanding of the fight against tyranny and the sacrifices made by Britain's wartime generation."
STOWMARKET branch of the Royal British Legion received £1,355 and Saxmundahm Town council received £1,770 in the lottery cash hand out. The money will be use3d to recognise and honour those who took part in the war effort.
How should we thank our war veterans? What do you think of this lottery grant? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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