The final preparations are being made for this Saturday’s (29 June) Armed Forces Day event in Carlisle.
The event will be part of a national celebration of the UK’s Armed Forces – past, present and future – and 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: Royal Air Force Spadeadam, Armed Forces Careers, 1862 Squadron (Air Cadets), Cumbria Army Cadet Force, the Cumbria Museum of Military Life, the Military Vehicles Trust, Tullie House, Devil’s Porridge Museum, Solway Aviation Museum and the Royal British Legion including the Women’s Section will all be in attendance.
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 Service Benevolent Funds.
The Armed Forces Day programme will also include live music provided by the Border Concert Band and a Cadet Drill competition at 2pm.
The 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 the 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.
Tony Parrini, Royal British Legion Branch Secretary (Carlisle and Stanwix Branch), said: “It remains extremely important that the Armed Forces and ex Forces Organisations and Community are kept in the public eye. For many, the need for an effective defence of our country has slipped off the radar, yet our serving personnel are deployed on active duty in many overseas locations as well as the defence of the United Kingdom.
“Hopefully, the public will make a special effort to support Armed Forces Day 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.”
Armed Forces Week will conclude with the flag-lowering ceremony on Saturday 29 June at 3.30pm. Attendees will include: the Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr Marilyn Bowman, together with the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria; the President of the Royal British Legion (Carlisle & Stanwix Branch), ex-Services Veterans and members of the local Army and Air Cadet Units.
The flag will be lowered by a member of the Air 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
