In association with the Normandy Veterans Association Important Launched - The HMVF Once More Onto The Beach campaign.. - HMVF - Historic Military Vehicles Forum It is now our turn. As of today, the HMVF Once More Onto The Beach campaign is launched. Everything is now in please to be a part of history that we can help write. The whole plan is on the Front Page and have added some of it here too. Bodge Deep has done an amazing job with the banner and should be justly proud of it. Artist Rifles is busy behind the scenes too and will help drive this forward. You can get to the article, the methods of payment by clicking on the campaign that you will see throughout the site. I have some case studies to go up as well and just awaiting the images from the NVA. Any question at all then please just let me know - here is the article/news/update.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The HMVF Once More Onto The Beach campaign in association with the Normandy Veterans Association. The Final Battle - it is now our turn. “Help us make one last journey to our D-Day beaches in honour of our fallen”, plead veterans. First the back ground to this campaign and then how to make payment and some case studies The Normandy Veterans Association, or NVA for short, wants to raise £300,000. This would enable them to send at least 1000 veterans back to the invasion beaches for the 65th anniversary of D-Day, June 6th 2009. They want to be able to stand along side their fellow US and Canadian brothers in arms. For most this will be their last time as age and health is taking its toll. You might think the British government would pay for our war heroes to return, after all, they helped save the free world? Unfortunately and sadly this is not the case. The USA and Canadian governments have promised funding for their veterans to return. They are paying for them to travel thousands of miles. The round trip from New York to Paris is at least 7,270 miles. If coming from the west coast of the USA then it is an 11,332 round trip. The British government is refusing to pay for veterans to cross, what is in some cases just 24 miles of water to France. So what does that have to do with HMVF? Well actually it has everything to do with us – because we are going to help raise money for the NVA. We are going to be responsible for getting some of our men back there. This is started with a post on the HMVF forum from Neil Plunkett (Artist’s Rifles). Neil posted up about the NVA trying to raise £300,000 for the veterans. On June the 6th this year my good lady bought me a newspaper because on the front page was this story. I had pinned it to the beam thinking that we must do something about this. When Neil posted up a newsletter from the NVA regarding the campaign then the fuse was lit. I contact the NVA and said that we would want to be part of their campaign and how can we help. They were more than happy to hear from us and wanted our help. I was very aware that it would be important to me to have HMVF working in association with the NVA. It is importance to give HMVF’s campaign credence and credibility. So I have discussed everything with the NVA. We have agreed upon and arranged all payments options and protocols. The HMVF Once More Onto The Beach banner and logo has been more than approved and is something to be proud of. I have told the NVA that HMVF is going to raise at least £4000, which will enable 10 of our men to return for the 65th. Why are we doing this? Because we can and because it is the right thing to do. Ironically our hobby is based on machines that were part of the death and destruction that these men went through. This hobby needs to help with the final battle. This is something that we can all be proud of; this is giving something back. Yes there are other charities that we all give to, but I am not asking you to change that. I am simply asking that we do this last thing for these men. We will be responsible for getting at least ten veterans to Normandy, that is pretty profound. We can talk to these men and will be able to meet them on the beaches and look them in the eye. This is a very special campaign and will be a very moving experience. This is how we are going raise our target of £4000. I am going to ask you all for a donation. I am personally donating £400 – that is our first veteran returning to Normandy. Nine left… I am committed to this and I’ll give you my word that I will phone, write, email or meet every single company in our hobby that I can think of for a donation. I won’t rest until we have hit our target – once we have reached this, I will raise the game. It is time to kiss egos goodbye. Every company that makes a donation we will list them and they will have their company banner on the supporters page. This will click through to their website if they have one. I do not expect everyone to match me with £400 as in true HMVF style there is no pressure, no right or wrong, no big stick. Just do what you can. Even if you have something that you can sell or auction to a fellow member then let’s do it. Every pound is going to make a difference. Don’t take your MV for a weekend – the money you would spend on fuel can be sent for the campaign. Small things make a big difference. Think about that. Other ways you can help. Tell everyone you know and ask them for a donation. You do not have to be a member of HMVF to help – remember what I said earlier, kiss those egos goodbye. If you belong to a group, trust, association then tell everyone about it at your next meeting. If you belong to other forums then ask the Admin there if you could post up some details about it – even better, ask them if they can mention it in their newsletters. Drop a line to your local newspaper or send me their details and I will call them myself. I will have some fliers made to hand out at shows – I will send you some. Speak to your local radio station - get on the news. If you sell your vehicle then be brave and donate £50 or what you can afford to the campaign. Tell me anyone you think I should speak to and I will call them. OK, how do I make a donation? HMVF and the NVA have worked out the best way to make payment so that we cover all avenues. We can accept cheques, bank transfer, cash and PayPal. We need to make sure that all payments have the reference of HMVF on them so that we can track all payments made. I can send everyone receipts if you need them for your records or for your accountant. Please see below for payment options: Cheque: Payable to - Normandy Veterans Assocation Sent to – HMVF Campaign Jack Beckett. Pathfinder Distribution Ltd Unit 9 Luccombe Business Centre Milton Abbas Blandford Dorset DT11 0BD I will then forward these onto the NVA. Bank Transfer direct to the NVA account: Account: 73578983 Sort: 60 16 03 Name: Normandy Veterans Association Please send me a note/email letting me know what you have sent so that I can add it to the rolling total. Cash – with your full name and address to: HMVF Campaign Jack Beckett Pathfinder Distribution Ltd Unit 9 Luccombe Business Centre Milton Abbas Blandford Dorset DT11 0BD You can download a Gift Aid Form here: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities/appendix_b1.pdf Please return it to Jack Beckett. PayPal: jack@hmvf.co.uk The NVA do not have a PayPal account and asked if we could use ours. We then forward payment to their account every time we have over £50 in the account. Please be aware that PayPal will take a fee from your donation of around 3%. I am speaking to them to see if we can get this waived. We will have a running total as we go so please keep checking back and we will be discussing it in full on the forum. A massive thank you goes to Rupert Fox (Bodge Deep) who designed the Once More Onto The Beach banner – the chairman of the NVA fell in love with it, thanks Roop. My full contact details are below if you would like to discuss anything about the campaign or can help in any way: Jack Beckett. Pathfinder Distribution Ltd Unit 9 Luccombe Business Centre Milton Abbas Blandford Dorset DT11 0BD T - 01258 880298 E - info@pathfinderdistribution.com OK, lets go... lets do our best, something to be proud of - let gets to work and get at least ten good men Once More Onto The Beach.
We have now added a Paypal Donate Button to the front page of HMVF www.hmvf.co.uk we have also added a running total which will updated regularly. This appeal really needs your support no matter how small, Thank You. Lee HMVF
HMVF???? With all the good will in the World......Never heard of them? I am one of the founding Fathers of Bournemouth / Poole and the Dorset branches Branch 84 and 88 Normandy Veterans Association... And the Poole Market Garden Association. Vice Chairman NVA for the first two years. I would be a lot happier if we were told the branch of the NVA that this organisation is talking to? Why I ask? is that the great majority of branches are defunct, age and ill health have taken the toll. The claim that the service men have never had help to return, is a blatantly wrong. This Government gave ten £million to the "Hero's Return Scheme" enabling second world war veterans to return to the areas where they saw active service. Indeed it may serve to remind folk here. That this Government also secured ten thousand pounds each for each Veterans held captive by the Japanese. I would also point out that the youngest of the Veterans is 83 and upwards.! Sapper
With respect sir I don' think it says the Government have never given, it say they are refusing to now. News : NVAFriends - Normandy Veterans Association - Normandy 1944 - Pilgrimages As things stand, very few British veterans will be able to afford to go to Normandy next year. The Government gave them a £330 "Heroes' Return" grant (and £220 for essential carers) to attend the large 60th anniversary commemorations in 2004. It was accepted at the time that it was a "final commemoration". The Government is, therefore, refusing to pay out again. All the same, Mr Hodge and the NVA have not entirely given up hope of persuading Gordon Brown to chip in. "The Government has announced it is taking £150m from 'dormant bank accounts', mostly belonging to the deceased," Mr Hodge said. "This money is to be given to youth causes. Fair enough. We have no objection. But could a small amount of that money not also help D-Day and other Normandy veterans to go on a final visit next year?"
Fine if everything is above board. But of necessity, the names and addresses of those NVA officials involved, would go a long way towards achieving your objectives. Then more power to your elbow. But there does need to be a great deal of openness here. Sapper
Fine if everything is above board. But of necessity, the names and addresses of those NVA officials involved, would go a long way towards achieving your objectives. Then more power to your elbow. But there does need to be a great deal of openness here. Sapper Hi Sapper, info as requested. Regards Lee D-Day Anniversary 2009 - Normandy Veterans It is estimated that 1,000 D-Day veterans across the UK would wish to attend the 65th Anniversary Commemorations in Normandy in June 2009, but with the soaring cost of living and no government grants, it is simply out of reach of many of our remaining veterans. Many of the D-Day veterans are in their 80's and 2009 is the last time they will visit Normandy in meaningful numbers. They will tell you how important it is to them, not only to meet up with their surviving comrades, but to have a chance to pay their respects to those who did not make it home, of whom there are thousands. The Normandy veterans Association has launched a fundraising campaign to raise £300,000, this would pay for the £400 costs per veteran for those who did wish to travel. We are helping the Normandy veterans Association with their PR for this event and in other ways, but if you can help in any way, by sponsoring a veteran or in any other way, please contact them. If you can help, please contact: Mary Mills-Brown Friends of the Normandy Veterans Association 22 Shipbourn Road Tonbridge TN10 3DN
Certainly commendable and if all above board and open as sapper stated I would be interested in helping out.
Hi Sapper, info as requested. Regards Lee Sapper / Anyone, has this been proved to be Kosher? The reason I ask is that I am starting a fundraising activity to support exactly this issue (Highlited by the friends of the NVA Holland) with the membership of the Official England FA supporters association (Englandfans - englandfans - Home). For those that dont know or dont care, we are playing away in Germany next week (Wed 19th Nov) and I am trying to get as many people as possible to visit the CWGC cemetery in Berlin (5 mins from Olympic Stadion). We, are also playing Kazakstan away in a World cup Qualifier on Sat 6th June, yes the 65th Anniverasy of the D-Day landings, and am looking for the englandfans members to raise enough money to sponsor at least one if not more veterans to return to the beachs for waht could be one last time. Any help, or links to support groups would be very helpfull Phil
Phil, get in touch with the chaps at HMVF as they're running it: Welcome to HMVF - Historic Military Vehicles Forum They're a reputable bunch with a public face and will no doubt tell you what's the plan proper. This is their page relating to it (seems they've reached enough to take 12 vets over already): The HMVF Once More Onto The Beach in association with the Normandy Veterans Association Good luck, Adam.
Phil, get in touch with the chaps at HMVF as they're running it: Welcome to HMVF - Historic Military Vehicles Forum They're a reputable bunch with a public face and will no doubt tell you what's the plan proper. This is their page relating to it (seems they've reached enough to take 12 vets over already): The HMVF Once More Onto The Beach in association with the Normandy Veterans Association Good luck, Adam. Thanks Adam, but I would like to do something direct with the NVA, so I can report back on how much the membership has raised, rather than it get lost in a larger collection. Does anyone have any direct contact details for the NVA Phil
If anyone has any email contact details for the National Branch of the NVA it woul dbe most appreciated Phil
