This years Armed Forces Day takes place on Saturday 29 June, with celebrations beginning on Monday 24 June
Monday 24 June is Flag Day. When the Armed Forces Day flag is raised on buildings and famous landmarks around the country.
Wednesday 26 June is Reserves Day. The Reserves give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career to ensure that they are ready to serve should their country require them, they would be ready to serve as part of the military.
The Reserve Forces make up approximately one sixth of our Armed Forces personnel and as such are integral to protecting the nation’s security at home and overseas, particularly providing capability in specialist areas such as medical and cyber.
Saturday 29 June is Armed Forces Day. Visit https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/about/ to find out more about the campaign and events happening on the day.
Armed Forces Day is a chance to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets. The UK Armed Forces are busy working around the world, promoting peace, delivering aid, tackling drug smugglers, providing security and fighting terrorism.
Chairman Richard Bassett said “Epping Forest along with more than 450 councils around the country, will be raising the Armed Forces flag as part of the countrywide celebrations to honour Britain’s Armed forces present, past and future.
This provides us with the opportunity to show our support for those who serve in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, and to those who have served in previous generations.
Recently we witnessed the poignant commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings and we British have traditionally been very good at paying tribute to past heroes, past sacrifices and past historic events.
However, until recently we have not publicly acknowledged our gratitude and appreciation of the sacrifices of our present-day heroes.
That is the purpose of Armed Forces Day, we owe an incredible debt of gratitude to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces. They are the ultimate protectors of our peace and security and indeed, of our whole way of life. They are not there just to protect us from conflict but are there in the front line of natural or man-made disasters.
Armed Forces Day is a celebration of our veterans’ community too, whatever their age. They have our respect, our admiration and our gratitude.
One of the marks of any civilised nation is the way it supports and respects those who fight for their country, and their families. They are an integral part of who we are as a nation, and an inspiration to us all.
As a nation, we continue to be indebted to those who today risk their lives in many places around the world and to the veterans whose service we will never forget and always honour.”