[P]reparations are underway for this Saturday’s (24 June) Armed Forces Day event in Carlisle.
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.
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.
Organisations represented on Armed Forces Day, will include: the local branch of the Royal British Legion; Royal Air Force Spadeadam; the Carlisle Armed Forces Careers office; the Royal Air Force Association; Carlisle Sea Cadet Force; Cumbria Army Cadet Force and the Air Training Corps (City of Carlisle) Squadron, Cumbria Museum of Military Life and the Solway Aviation Museum.
Stalls and exhibitions will be in place from 10am. The Women’s Section of Royal British Legion will run a cake stall all day and will be providing refreshments in the Old Town Hall between 10am and 12noon.
Monies raised on the day from the stalls and raffles will be shared between the three Armed Forces Benevolent Funds.
The Armed Forces Day programme will also include live music provided by the Border Concert Band and a Cadet Drill competition at 11am.
The Mayor will also present a Citation of Appreciation to the Armed Forces, at 3.30pm, which will be received by a representative of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.
Tony Parrini, Royal British Legion Branch Secretary (Carlisle and Stanwix Branch), said: “The purpose of Armed Forces Day is an opportunity for the Civic Authorities and members of the public to show their appreciation of the past achievements of our Armed Forces veterans, the ongoing work of today’s Armed Forces in maintaining the peace that we enjoy 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.”
A formal flag-raising ceremony took place outside the Old Town Hall on Monday 19 June at 12noon ahead of the events on Saturday, 24 June. A member of the Army Cadets raised the flag.
A flag-lowering ceremony will also be held on Saturday 24 June at 3.30pm.
The flag will be lowered by a member of the Sea Cadets. The assembled veterans, serving personnel and cadets will then parade passed the Mayor of Carlisle to conclude the event.
For further information about Armed Forces Day visit www.armedforcesday.org.uk
