Armed Forces Day (United Kingdom)

For Veterans Day in the United States, see Veterans Day.
Armed Forces Day
Official name Armed Forces Day
Observed by United Kingdom
Significance Celebration of the contributions, both past and present, of those who have served in the British Armed Forces
Observances Parades, silences, celebrations
Date so far on last Saturday of June
2015 date 27 June
Frequency annual
Related to Remembrance Day

Armed Forces Day (formerly Veterans' Day) in the United Kingdom is an annual event celebrated in late June to commemorate the service of men and women in the British Armed Forces. Veterans' Day was first observed in 2006.[1] Although an official event, it is not a public holiday in the UK. The name was changed to Armed Forces Day in 2009. Armed Forces Day has so far been observed on the last Saturday of June.

Origins

Plans for a Veterans' Day were announced in February 2006 by then-Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, who said the aim was to ensure the contribution of veterans was never forgotten. The day is marked across the UK by local ceremonies and the presentation of medals to living ex-servicemen and women. The date of 27 June was chosen as it came the day after the anniversary of the first investiture of the Victoria Cross, in Hyde Park, London in 1857.[1]

Veterans Day was created as a permanent extension of Veterans' Awareness Week first held in 2005. Armed Forces Day generally focuses on celebrating living current/ex servicemen & women, whereas Remembrance Day focuses on honouring the dead. Although it used to be called Veteran's Day in the UK, it is not the same as the United States' Veterans Day which is more similar to Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth.

On 25 June 2007, Jim Devine the Member of Parliament for Livingston, tabled a House of Commons Early Day Motion calling for the day to be a public holiday, stating "that this House recognises the outstanding contribution that veterans have made to the country; and believes that Veterans' Day should be a national public holiday across the United Kingdom."[2]

Veterans' Day 2006

The first Veterans' Day in 2006 saw a series of events across the UK which included an event at the Imperial War Museum in London, which was attended by Lachhiman Gurung VC, a Nepalese recipient of the Victoria Cross, which was awarded for bravery in 1945 when he was a Rifleman in the 4th Battalion of The 8th Gurkha Rifles, British Indian Army during World War II in Burma (Myanmar), and Corporal Christopher Finney GC of the Blues and Royals who was awarded the George Cross for bravery under friendly fire during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Parades were held in Dundee and Staffordshire as well as a service at Westminster Abbey. There was also an evening reception at 10 Downing Street for representatives of veterans associations.[1]

Veterans' Day 2007

The 2007 national event was held in Birmingham as the start of a five-day event from 27 June to 1 July. In the morning there was a "Parade of Standards" which was led by The Central Band of the Royal Air Force, from the International Convention Centre (ICC) to the Hall of Memory in Centenary Square.[3] The day also included celebrations in Victoria Square where a Spitfire aircraft was on display and the Minister for Veterans Derek Twigg presented five Veterans' Badges and met the families of service personnel who died in the line of duty.[4]

Veterans' Day 2008

For the 2008 Veterans' Day, the national event was hosted in Blackpool as part of the resorts annual "National Veterans' Week" which ran from 21 to 29 June 2008.[5]

Events were held throughout the UK and the day was promoted by a nationwide television advert.[6] The National Veterans' Day Service was held at Blackpool Cenotaph, a Grade II Listed building which had just been restored, by North Pier on central promenade. The service was led by the Bishop of Blackburn[7] and was attended by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Derek Twigg and General Sir Richard Dannatt, the Chief of the General Staff, as well as Henry Allingham (at the time, he was the oldest surviving veteran of World War I).[8] The service was followed by a "Schools Veterans' Day Thank You" performed by local school children,[9]

Various other events were held throughout Blackpool during the day including a "Badge Presentation ceremony" in the Tower Ballroom[10] with the Duchess of Cornwall presenting veteran badges to among others, Martin Bell.[8] There was also a Veterans' Parade along the promenade[10] and a Falklands War veteran abseiled down Blackpool Tower.[8]

The weekly BBC Radio 2 programme, Friday Night is Music Night was broadcast live from the Opera House presented by Ken Bruce with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Alfie Boe and Rebecca Thornhill.[11] The Red Devils parachute display team performed an illuminated "night time parachute drop" outside North Pier[12] and the day ended with a Firework Finale from the pier.[13]

Other events included a commemoration at Trafalgar Square in London.[14]

Armed Forces Day 2009

Armed Forces Day
2009 London
2010 Cardiff

In 2009 the name of the event was changed to Armed Forces Day, to raise awareness and appreciation for those on active duty. It took place on Saturday 27 June.[15] The host town was Chatham, Kent with events elsewhere, including London.

Armed Forces Day 2010

In 2010, Armed Forces Day was held on Saturday 26 June hosted in the Welsh capital of Cardiff.[16]

The day-long celebrations included a military parade from Cardiff Castle to Cardiff Bay and the city's waterfront, where a range of events, activities and artistic performances were staged on land, sea and air. The parade was led by HRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. Royal Navy frigate HMS Kent was docked in Cardiff to take part in the events. An estimated 50,000 people attended the celebrations in the city.

Among the cities joining Cardiff in hosting events were Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Plymouth, Nottingham, Bristol and Manchester.

Events in Cardiff included:[17]

Armed Forces Day 2011

Armed Forces Day 2011 took place on Saturday 25 June, with the main parade held on the Royal Mile in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, which was this year's host city. The personnel of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force took the salute from Prince Charles, at the Scottish Parliament, in the presence of dignitaries, including the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, the Defence Secretary, the First Minister of Scotland, and the Chief of the Defence Staff. Over Edinburgh there was a fly-past by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Red Arrows. HMS Portland, a Royal Navy frigate, was moored at Leith, Edinburgh's port, for public tours.[18]

In Windsor, Berkshire, at the Victoria Barracks, the Irish Guards were awarded their Afghan operational medals by Prince William – who is their ceremonial Colonel of the Regiment – and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.[19]

Further events and parades were held across the United Kingdom.[20] At the Royal Navy's base in Portsmouth, a number of public events took place over the weekend, and Royal Navy destroyers HMS Gloucester and HMS Daring were docked and available to the public.[21]

Armed Forces Day 2012

UK Armed Forces Day 2012 was centred on Plymouth and took place on Saturday 30 June. Similar events were held throughout the United Kingdom.

Armed Forces Day 2013

UK Armed Forces Day 2013 was centred on Nottingham[22] and took place on Saturday 29 June. Over 300 similar events were held throughout the United Kingdom.

Armed Forces Day 2014

UK Armed Forces Day 2014 was centred on Stirling and took place on Saturday 28 June. Hundreds of similar events were held throughout the United Kingdom.

Armed Forces Day 2015

UK Armed Forces Day 2015 will be centred on Guildford on Saturday 27 June. Hundreds of similar local events will be held throughout the United Kingdom. Events are also listed on AFD Events and event merchandise can be ordered from AFD Badges.

Armed Forces Day 2016

UK Armed Forces Day 2016 will be centred on Cleethorpes on Saturday 25 June.

Protests

In Northern Ireland, there is much support for Armed Forces Day from the unionist community.[23] However, each year the flying of Armed Forces Day flags from council buildings has met with opposition, due to some of the actions of the British Army during The Troubles. The opposition has come from Irish nationalist/republican groups, and from the families of those who were victims of the British Army.[24][25][26] Sinn Féin argued that it dishonours the "hundreds of Irish citizens" killed by the British Army during the conflict and is an insult to their families.[24] Republican group Éirígí, who hold a yearly protest in Belfast, have called the event a "propaganda stunt" motivated by "falling recruitment rates" and "growing disgust at the [British military's] contemporary wars of conquest".[27] Before 2012, the Ministry of Defence had asked Belfast City Council to fly the flag from Belfast City Hall for one day. Since 2012, it has asked that the flag be flown for six days.[28]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "First Veterans Day takes place". bbc.co.uk. 27 June 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  2. ↑ "Early Day Motion EDM1753 Veterans' Day". UK Parliament. 25 June 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  3. ↑ Dhaliwal, Jaskirt (28 June 2007). "National Veterans Day Celebrations". BBC Birmingham. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  4. ↑ "Hundreds gather for Veterans' Day". bbc.co.uk. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  5. ↑ "Blackpool to host Veterans' Day". bbc.co.uk. 29 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  6. ↑ "Veterans Day TV Advert". veteransday.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  7. ↑ "National Veterans' Day Official Cenotaph Service". Blackpool Veterans' Week. 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  8. 1 2 3 "Duchess makes Veterans' Day visit". bbc.co.uk. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  9. ↑ "Schools’ Veterans’ Day Thank You". Blackpool Veterans' Week. 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  10. 1 2 "Badge Presentations". Blackpool Veterans' Week. 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  11. ↑ "Friday Night is Music Night". Blackpool Veterans' Week. 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  12. ↑ "Friday Night Time Parachute Drop". Blackpool Veterans' Week. 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  13. ↑ "Firework Finalé". Blackpool Veterans' Week. 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  14. ↑ Zeng, Yixiang; Paddy, Colin (2 July 2008). "Young Londoners Commemorate Veterans' Day". BBC London. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  15. ↑ "Thousands Attend Armed Forces Day". BBC London. 27 June 2009. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
  16. ↑ Official website of Armed Forces Day National Event Cardiff 2010
  17. ↑ BBC News Cardiff ready for Armed Forces Day celebrations
  18. ↑ BBC News UK Armed Forces Day parade to take place in Edinburgh
  19. ↑ BBC News Duke and Duchess of Cambridge honour Irish Guards
  20. ↑ Shropshire Star "In scenes mirrored up and down the UK, former soldiers, sailors and air personnel came together for the reunion on Saturday which celebrated the commitment and sacrifice made by the British Armed Forces."
  21. ↑ Portsmouth News Arm yourself for fun and reflection
  22. ↑ "Red Arrows fly-past marks Armed Forces Day in Nottingham". bbc.co.uk. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
  23. ↑ "Ulster Unionists support Armed Forces Day". Ulster Unionist Party. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  24. 1 2 "Statement by Sinn Fein on 'Armed Forces' flag at Belfast City Hall". Official Sinn Féin website. 24 June 2009.
  25. ↑ "Relatives to meet with Mayor Long", Relatives for Justice
  26. ↑ "British Armed Forces Day protest", Official Éirígí website. 24 June 2010.
  27. ↑ "Oppose Britain's 'Armed Forces Day'", Official Éirígí website. 9 June 2009.
  28. ↑ "Armed Forces flag to fly for six days at City Hall". BBC News. 22 June 2012.

External links

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