This June, the Royal British Legion (RBL) will be hosting 2 events at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark 2 very important anniversaries. On 6th June, as part of wider national commemorations, there will be a service to mark 80 years since the D Day landings. And later on in the month, on the 23rd June, there will be a commemoration of 25 years since the Kosovo War.
You find out how you can be involved in each event below:
D-Day 80
On 6th June 1944, around 133,000 allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy. This included more than 53,000 British troops along with Americans, Canadians and ten other nationalities. This was the start of Operation Overlord, which led to the liberation of Western Europe and the beginning of the end of the Second World War.
The Royal British Legion will be leading the UK’s commemorations in France to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. In the UK, the RBL is also hosting an event at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, to mark the anniversary and reunite Normandy veterans and descendants on 6th June. The service will start at 2pm, and the Arboretum will be open from 9am to members of the public who will be welcome to watch the D-Day 80 Service of Remembrance in the grounds. For these visitors seating will be made available on a first come first served basis. Entry to the Arboretum is free, but booking your visit in advance is recommended to guarantee entry, and save on parking (£4 in advance, £6 on the day).
Remembering Kosovo – 25 Years On
This year, marks the 25th anniversary since the end of the Kosovo War, which saw the deployment of the NATO-led international peacekeeping force – KFOR. The RBL will honour the service and sacrifices made by those who served with KFOR, which coincides with this being the 75th year since NATO was established.
They are marking the anniversary with a Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, on 23 June 2024. They look forward to welcoming all Armed Forces personnel who served with NATO’s KFOR mission – and/or their families, to join for the service.
To register to attend, please complete the registration form.
The Royal British Legion is not only the champion of Remembrance, but it also sits at the heart of a national network supporting the Armed Forces community – those who served, are serving, and their families. It is the country’s largest Armed Forces charity, offering lifelong support to those who need it.
Visit rbl.org.uk to find out more.
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