MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (084/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service on
28 April 2009
The MOD is
encouraging councils, businesses and homes across the country to
show their support for Britain's Armed Forces by flying a
special flag designed for Armed Forces Day.
The Armed Forces Day Flag - available to order from today - will
be flown to mark the first ever national Armed Forces Day on
Saturday 27 June 2009. This new annual event celebrates the
UK's Armed Forces - past, present and future.
Hundreds of councils have pledged to raise the Armed Forces Day
Flag at 10.30am on Monday 22 June to officially commence a week of
celebrations in honour of our Armed Forces and now businesses and
homes will be able to join them in showing their backing for the Forces.
The centrepiece of the celebrations on 27 June will be the
historic dockyard at Chatham, Kent, and dozens of events are
planned around the country to show appreciation for Her
Majesty's Forces. Major celebrations will take place in
Cardiff, Glasgow, Blackpool, Portsmouth, Nottingham, Southend,
Edinburgh, Caernarfon, Birmingham, Manchester, Stirling and
Plymouth, among others.
Armed Forces Day at Chatham will include fly-pasts by historic
and current aircraft, including the Red Arrows, have-a-go
activities with the Armed Forces and a veteran's parade in
the Dockyard. Cardiff will see displays from the RAF Falcons
Parachute Display Team and the Red Devils, the Parachute Regiment
Freefall Team, along with music from the Central Band of the Royal
Air Force and the Welsh Guards Band.
The Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in Afghanistan yesterday:
"Britain's armed forces are second to none, and the
whole country owes them an enormous debt of gratitude. Our troops
risk their lives fighting the agents of terror here on the front
line in Afghanistan to keep the streets of Britain safe, and they
are a force for good standing up for the UK's interests right
across the world.
"Armed Forces Day is our chance to say thank you. I'm
proud to be out here in Helmand province launching the Armed
Forces Day flags campaign - I urge everyone to send off for this
specially designed flag and fly it with pride."
Veterans Minister Kevan Jones said:
"The men and women of Armed Forces make huge personal
sacrifices to defend the UK and their efforts deserve support and
recognition. Flying this new flag gives the public, businesses and
councils across the country the chance to show their appreciation
for the important job that they do.
"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 Armed Forces Day Flag sends out a
clear message of gratitude that will be appreciated by all our
service personnel, past, present and future."
The design of the Armed Forces Day flag is based on the Union
Jack and it measures 5ft by 3ft. Flags cost £10, which includes
postage and packaging to UK addresses, VAT and a £1 donation by
the flag supplier, Piggotts, to the Forces Children's Trust,
a charity devoted to helping dependent children that have lost a
parent whilst serving with the Armed Forces.
Those interested in ordering an Armed Forces Day Flag should
visit http://www.piggotts.co.uk or
email armedforcesdayflag@piggotts.co.uk.
Notes to Editors:
1. An image of the Armed Forces Day flag is attached.
2. All orders must be received by 31 May 2009 to guarantee
delivery by 19 June. Flags will be sent out from 1 June.
3. Further information on Armed Forces Day and a full list of
events confirmed so far are available at: http://www.armedforcesday.org.uk
4. Further information on the Forces Children's Trust is
available at http://www.forceschildrenstrust.org.
5. For further information, contact Tom Bennett, Ministry of
Defence Press Office, 0207 218 5083.