200 Armed Forces Day events this weekend
The Royal Family, Defence ministers and senior military figures will join people at over 200 events in the UK this weekend to celebrate the third annual Armed Forces Day.
Flight Lieutenant Zia Higgins, Media Communications Officer at RAF Halton, flies the flag in support of Armed Forces Day [Picture: Kate Parrott, RAF Halton Photo Section, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]
Armed Forces Day aims to raise awareness of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and highlight the outstanding contribution they make to British society.
The City of Edinburgh will host this year’s national Armed Forces Day event tomorrow, Saturday 25 June 2011. Tens-of-thousands of people are expected to attend, with various related events set to take place in the city over the weekend.
Highlights will include:
Friday 24 June: Ocean Terminal at Leith will see tours of Type 23 frigate HMS Portland, and a 30-minute air display (sponsored by SELEX Galileo) by the world famous Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team - the Red Arrows - over the Firth of Forth; their first full display in Edinburgh for 23 years. Some of the best views will be from Calton Hill, The Braids, Corstorphine Hill, Arthur’s Seat, Cramond and the Promenade.
Saturday 25 June: The main event for Armed Forces Day Edinburgh (sponsored by BAE Systems and Finmeccania) will see a parade of up to 2,500 military personnel, veterans and cadets marching down the Royal Mile from the Castle Esplanade to Holyrood Park, past Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. The parade will end with a short ceremony and a flypast from the Red Arrows. This will be followed by a Drumhead Service in Holyrood Park, where there will be a Veterans’ Village.
Sunday 26 June: The day kicks off with a Military Fitness Session in Holyrood Park, followed by a massed Pipes and Drums parade from the Castle Esplanade to Holyrood Park. An afternoon of live music follows, featuring a Battle of the Bands. These events have been organised by the charity DecAid.
To find out about events taking place near you visit http://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/Events.aspx