[A]n 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, 30 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.
Organisations represented on Armed Forces Day, will include: 1862 Squadron (Air Cadets), Royal Air Force Spadeadam; Carlisle Sea Cadet Force; Cumbria Army Cadet Force, the Cumbria Museum of Military Life and the Solway Aviation Museum.
Stalls and exhibitions will be in place from 10am. Monies raised on the day from the stalls and raffles will be shared between the three Military Cadet formations in Carlisle.
The Armed Forces Day programme will also include live music provided by the Border Concert Band and a Cadet Drill competition at 2pm.
The Deputy Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Marilyn Bowman will also present a Citation of Appreciation to the Armed Forces, at 3.30pm, which will be received by RAF Spadeadam.
Tony Parrini, Royal British Legion Branch Secretary (Carlisle and Stanwix Branch), said: “I hope that in this special year of Centenaries of the First World War and the formation of the Royal Air Force and Anniversary of the award of the Victoria Cross to Lt J H Collin VC, the public will make a special effort to attend both events and use the opportunity to show 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.”
As part of the build-up Armed Forces Week, stalls from various armed forces will be in place in Carlisle city centre between 10am and 3pm on Saturday 23 June. Representatives will include: Royal Navy Careers; Royal Artillery Corps Engagement team; Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment Support team; 4th Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment; Outreach Team North West; Military Guard Provost Service; Army Careers; and Cumbria Museum of Military Life. The Women’s Section of Royal British Legion will run a cake stall all day and refreshments in the Old Town Hall between 10am and 11.30am.
A formal flag-raising ceremony will take place outside the Old Town Hall on Saturday 23 June at 12 noon and fly for the week ahead of the Armed Forces Day events on Saturday, 30 June. The flag-raising will be attended by the Deputy Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Marilyn Bowman; together with Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mr I Brown; the High Sherriff of Cumbria, Simon Berry; the President of The Royal British Legion (Carlisle & Stanwix Branch) and members of the local Sea, Army and Air cadet units. Members of the RAF Air Cadets will raise the flag. A ceremony to mark the Centenary of the award of the Victoria Cross to Lt Joseph H Collin VC, and the laying of a commemorative flagstone, will also take place following the flag raising.
Armed Forces Week will conclude with the flag-lowering ceremony on Saturday 30 June at 3.30pm. Attendees will include: the Deputy Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Marilyn Bowman, together with Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mrs T Hart; the President of the Royal British Legion (Carlisle & Stanwix Branch), ex-Services Veterans and members of the local Sea, Army and Air Cadet Units.
The flag will be lowered by a member of the Army Cadets. The assembled veterans, serving personnel and cadets will then parade passed the Deputy Mayor of Carlisle to conclude the event.
For further information about Armed Forces Day visit www.armedforcesday.org.uk
