ROSE Cottage in Launceston will be getting involved in a global scheme to ‘thank our troops’, offering a free night’s stay during Remembrance weekend to veterans and their partners.

The Thanking Our Forces scheme began eight years ago in America, in an aim to honour active and retired veterans with free stays in B&Bs, inns and guesthouses, after their service and bravery for their country.

In 2008, Kathleen Panek, owner of Gillum House B&B in West Virginia, USA, welcomed veterans and their partners for a free stay during Veteran’s Day.

In 2009, this expanded throughout West Virginia, and in 2010, it expanded throughout the USA.

In 2011, the programme moved along to Canada, in conjunction with BBCanada.com. Kathleen, who hopes this will one day become a world-wide programme, is responsible for around 100 B&Bs, inns and guesthouses getting involved in the programme throughout the USA, Canada and, now, the UK.

Now in its ninth year, and following its expansion to Canada, Thanking Our Forces has, for the first time, come to the UK, and will see around 35 small B&Bs take part during November 11, 12 and 13, as part of the Remembrance Sunday weekend.

After learning about the scheme on a B&B forum, on November 11 and 12, Karen and Adrian Ellington, owners of Rose Cottage, will offer a free room to a retiring or active veteran and their partner, including breakfast and the luxuries the B&B offers during their stay.

This is part of the Thanking Our Forces initiative to thank veterans for their service to their country by inviting them for a complimentary stay.

Karen told the Post: “It’s all about thanking our national forces; it’s grown and grown in the US over the years and, after joining the B&B forum in the UK, it’s finally started over here.

“It’s the first year having it over here in the UK, and I think 35 B&Bs are getting involved in the country. I hope in the future we’ll continue to be involved in this.”

Details of the B&Bs involved in the scheme have been promoted in the military newsletter, allowing veterans to get involved.

Karen added: “It’s a way of giving back directly to people who have been a part of the forces. This way, it’s definitely providing a service to somebody, and someone will benefit from it at the end of it.

“We’re starting with one night this time, but we hope to continue with this in future years.”