PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
HOLOCAUST AND VETERANS' DAY (24 June 2007)

That this House welcomes Veterans' Day on 27th June; recognises with enormous gratitude the immense contribution made by veterans throughout the ages who risked their lives to uphold the great British values of freedom, democracy and tolerance; further recognises that the courage and sacrifice of British servicemen and women made during the Second World War was paramount to saving victims of the Holocaust; notes that on 15th April 1945 British troops liberated the Bergen-Belsen Nazi concentration camp, rescuing tens of thousands of inmates from certain death; further notes the compassion, hope and freedom that liberators gave back to the Holocaust survivors, many of whom have prospered under the democratic values of the United Kingdom; acknowledges that the lessons of the past have still not be learnt and fascist parties continue to divide communities with their message of intolerance, bigotry and hatred; calls upon every hon. Member to unite in their resolve to fight against sentiments of division and hatred; and commends the work of organisations like the Royal British Legion, the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and the Holocaust Educational Trust who work with war veterans and Holocaust survivors enabling them to share their testimonies with younger generations in order to keep alive the memory of this defining episode in world history.

Sponsored by:
Lynda Waltho (Labour)