Dame Vera Lynn’s daughter Virginia backs the Mirror’s ‘brilliant’ remembrance campaign
EXCLUSIVE: The Mirror urges readers to stand outside their homes for two minutes’ silence on Remembrance Sunday to ensure fallen heroes are remembered
Dame Vera Lynn’s daughter has backed the Mirror’s remembrance campaign, calling it a “brilliant idea”.
We want people to stand outside their homes for two minutes’ silence on Remembrance Sunday to ensure fallen heroes are remembered in a year when Covid has curtailed commemorations.
Virginia Lewis-Jones, whose mum died in June at 103, said: “I definitely support this campaign.
“It is important because it brings people together and it is a question of solidarity in these times to know you are not on your own.
“We would normally have a service with a marching band through the village but because of the virus we can’t do that this year, so I think this is a brilliant idea.”
Virginia also spoke about Forces Sweetheart Dame Vera’s new album, Keep Smiling Through, which features never-before-heard versions of re- orchestrated classic songs.
To coincide with the release, a virtual singalong of We’ll Meet Again will take place in care homes nationwide on Remembrance Day.
The album was ex-pected to be Dame Vera’s final release and features an unheard track, one of her last-known recordings.
On it, accompanied by music, she reads High Flight, a moving poem by a Second World War fighter pilot. Virginia, 74, added: “The spirit of the music will hopefully help people.
“A lot of them can’t get out and anything that gives them a boost is good.
“It has been a terrible time for the older generation this year and it’s wonderful to see my mother’s legacy lives on, lifting spirits and bringing everyone together.
“Throughout her life, during challenging times, she was always able to bring people together.”
Virginia, only child of Vera and musician husband Harry Lewis, said she was still getting letters from all over the world following her mother’s death. From the early 1960s Dame Vera lived in Ditchling, East Sussex.
For many years Virginia and ex-RAF pilot husband Tom Jones lived next door.
They moved into the same house to help care for Vera in her final years.
Earlier this week the Royal British Legion joined political leaders, the head of Britain’s armed forces and Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas to also back the Mirror campaign.
The Mirror is urging people to stand in silence on their doorsteps for two minutes at 11am on Remembrance Day which this year will be commemorated on Sunday, November 8.
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