Armed Forces Day
City Centre event commemorates national
celebration
(Date of issue: Monday, 21 June 2010 )
An event to commemorate Armed Forces Day, a
national celebration of the UK's Armed Forces - past, present and
future - will be held in Carlisle’s city centre pedestrianised area
on Saturday, 26 June.
Organised by a large working party of
military organisations, including the Royal British Legion, with
support from Carlisle City Council, it will be held from 10am
onwards.
The event will include a display of vintage
military vehicles and aero-engines, an inflatable scud missile from
RAF Spadeadam and stalls from various military organisations.
Longtown haulage firm Wm Armstrong Ltd is helping transport the
items. Music will be provided by the Border Concert Band.
Organisations represented on the day, will
include Royal Air Force Spadeadam, the Carlisle Armed Forces
Careers office and branches of the Royal British Legion; Soldiers,
Sailors and Air Force Association and the Royal Air Force
Association.
Carlisle cadets will carry out drill practices
throughout the day before competing against each other at 3pm. They
will be judged by Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Mary Styth, who will also
be involved in presenting a commemorative scroll, at 11.30am, to
the most senior armed forces officer in Cumbria, Wing Commander
Wallace, Officer Commanding, RAF Spadeadam.
The women’s branch of the Royal British Legion
will also be offering refreshments in the Old Town Hall throughout
the day. Funds raised on the day will be donated to the benevolent
funds for the three armed forces – Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air
Force.
Rev Bob Batson, Royal British Legion,
said:
“The purpose of Armed Forces Day is to
celebrate what our veterans have already achieved, what our current
personnel continue to achieve, and the opportunities the Armed
Forces offer our future generations. The display of the Armed
Forces Day Flag will send out a clear message that will be
appreciated by all our service personnel, past, present and
future.”
In addition to holding events, the MOD is
also encouraging councils, businesses and homes across the country
to show their support for our Armed Forces by flying a special flag
celebrating Armed Forces Day.
A formal flag-raising ceremony will take
place outside the Old Town Hall on Monday 21 June at 10.30am ahead
of the events on Saturday, 26 June. The flag-raising will be
attended by the Mayor of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mary Styth and
her consort Jim Styth; Deputy Lieutenant Bill Swarbrick; Wg Cdr
Wallace, RAF Spadeadam, and youngsters from local army, air and sea
cadet units. A member of the Sea Cadets will raise the
flag.
A flag-lowering ceremony will also be held
on Saturday 26 June at 4.30 pm. Attendees will include the Mayor of
Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mary Styth and her consort Jim Styth;
Deputy Lieutenant Bill Swarbrick; Flight Lieutenant Dan Ackroyd,
representing Officer Commanding, RAF Spadeadam, Parade Marshall,
Pilot Officer Brian White; President of the Royal British Legion
(Carlisle and Stanwix Branch), Major Joss Mark and youngsters from
local army, air and sea cadet units. The flag will be lowered by a
member of the Army Cadets.
A Quarter Peal, a special bell ringing
sequence, will be rung at Carlisle Cathedral at 4.45pm to mark the
end of the formal flag-lowering ceremony.
For further information about Armed Forces
Day visit www.armedforcesday.org.uk (external
link).