THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 4, 1995 TAG: 9506030053
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Dennis A. Caragnaro
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
VIRTUALLY EVERY town of any size in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand has a veterans club that does not offer accommodations but rather good cheer and often meals and, best of all, welcome their American allies. They are a little like our American Legion, VFW and Fleet Reserve Association but usually quite a bit more, as our English speaking allies are more ``clubby.''
The Royal British Legion may be the largest of these organizations in Great Britain, but there are others. For example, in Birmingham, England, the Royal Marines Association, Royal Navy Association and other Naval veterans groups have banded together and operate nightly the very popular Nautical Club in Bishopsgate.
Down under it's the Returned Services League of Australia (RSL) and the New Zealand Returned Services Association (RSA). Most towns of any size have one. Many members in Australia are Vietnam vets. In South Africa and Zimbabwe, the similar club is the Memorable Order of Tin Hats. The South Africans and Zimbabweans (then Rhodesians) fought alongside Americans in World War II and Korea. All three veterans groups make it a point to welcome Americans.
Info: Royal British Legion, 48 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JY, United Kingdom. The Returned Services League of Australia, G.P.O. Box 303, Canberra, A C.T. 2601, Australia. The New Zealand Returned Services Association, ``Waterside House,'' 220 Willis Street, Wellington, New Zealand. M.O.T.H. Headquarters, Westgard House, P.O. Box 2549, (4000) Durban, Republic of South Africa.
The American Legion's Paris Post No. 1 is located two blocks off the Champs d'Elysees at 49 Pierre Charron in Pershing Hall. It's co-located with the very helpful USO.
The U.S. military offers inexpensive accommodations on its bases and recreation centers. An excellent reference to military accommodations is ``Temporary Military Lodging Around the World,'' available at most military exchanges and by mail from Military Living Publications, P.O. Box 2347, Falls Church, Va. 22042; (703) 237-0203. by CNB