Every year, on 9 May, The Island of Jersey celebrates their Liberation from German Occupation during WW2. Our new Bear, Cpl Arnhem, went to check out proceedings, as an introductory mission.
*cough* Hello, everyone! As the new Bear on the Team, I was both surprised and honoured to be given a task within a couple of days of arriving. In the care of the Bear-Minder-General, we left "HQ Bears" and headed for the Royal Square where the various parade elements were forming up for the Liberation Day celebrations. The easiest people to spot in the crowd were, as usual, members of The Jersey Field Squadron (RE)(M). I explained that I was covering for Sgt Braille in his absence, and they agreed to pose for a photo.
The square was full of Red Cross collectors. During the dark years from 1 July 1940, when the occupation began, the Islanders had been dependent on whatever they could grow for food, and the German Authorities had imposed severe restrictions. After D-Day, and the subsequent advance of Allied forces into France, the Island was completely cut off from external supplies and desperate food shortages affected both the local population and the occupying Germans. As a result, between December 1944 and May 1945, the Red Cross ship S.S. Vega made 5 separate journeys to bring desperately-needed Red Cross parcels for the Islanders. Amazingly, the Germans didn't interfere with the civilian supplies, and the Germans troops continued to starve - literally.
The Occupation of The Channel Islands
The crowds were managed by the Island's Honorary Police [a volunteer force based in each Parish] and by the States of Jersey Police. Neither group was over-stressed, and a holiday atmosphere filled the air as the Band of The Island of Jersey led the marching contingents on the short journey to Liberation Square. There we gathered outside the Pomme d'Or Hotel, which had been the German Naval HQ during the Occupation.
Following a Service of Thanksgiving, the actual moments of Liberation were re-enacted.
"Two Royal Navy officers from HMS Beagle came ashore, and were greeted by the Harbourmaster. Together they proceeded to the Harbourmaster's office, where the Union Flag was unfurled. Then the liberating British troops of Force 135 came ashore, to be lost in the crowd of Islanders as they handed out sweets and other luxuries for the children. Col Robinson of Force 135 went to the Pomme d'Or, and replaced the German flag with the Union Flag. Jersey was free again, after nearly 5 years of Occupation and a long period of desperate privation."
It was all very moving, and it was a privilege to be allowed to report on this event as my first task.
I never got to meet any of the VIPs, but I did spot an ex-3RTR bloke in the crowd. I waved, but I don't think he saw me 
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Holidays 4 Heroes is an informal group of people that assists wounded service personnel and their families get a precious break from the routine of rehab, hospital appointments and visits to welfare offices by facilitating holidays away from it all in accommodation donated by our sponsors in the UK and abroad. 
Deals with the cases that either lie outside the normal remit of the main Service Charities, or require a faster response than they can usually provide. Sometimes the cases require financial assistance, a little bit of nudging in the right direction for long-term help, or the application of a bit of expertise.