VETERANS DAY SHOULD BE MARKED BY ALL - BURT

1.32.49pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Jun 2007

Local LibDem MP, Lorely Burt has today signed an Early Day Motion promoting greater recognition of the immense contribution which has been made by veterans throughout the ages, who risked their lives to uphold the great British values of freedom, democracy and tolerance.

The Early Day Motion, which is akin to a Parliamentary petition, also calls upon every Member of Parliament to aid in the fight against the very sentiments of division and hatred which led to the Second World War.

Commenting from the annual Royal British Legion reception with MPs in Westminster, Lorely said:

"I hope everyone in Solihull will mark Veterans Day, so we can say 'thank you' to all those who have defended our way of life. The freedom which we enjoy today is too often taken for granted. We in Britain owe a huge debt to those veterans who placed their lives at risk to safeguard the liberties which we enjoy today.

"However, we must all be aware that the threats to our liberty don't just come from outside our borders. The lessons of the past have still not been learnt, with extremist groups and parties continuing to divide our communities with their message of intolerance, bigotry and hatred.

"Today, we can best safeguard our society from these groups by cherishing the very values and virtues for which our veterans fought. I passionately believe we are a liberal nation by instinct, by tradition, by choice, and our values deserve to be celebrated, and those who have defended them to be thanked.