IN PICTURES: Nation shows gratitude to Armed Forces

The day was created as an opportunity for the people of the UK to show their support for all those who make up the Armed Forces community past and present, and thousands of members of the public came out to show their support across the length and breadth of the country.

Click here to see more photographs of people celebrating Armed Forces Day across Britain.

The Historic Dockyard at Chatham in Kent hosted the long since sold-out main national event. A packed schedule played out to a crowd of over 30,000 people, bathed in glorious summer sunshine.

It was a chance not just to celebrate and commemorate but also an opportunity to get a close-up look at service life and to meet and chat to personnel of all ranks and ages, from all Services.

The event at Chatham included a tri-Service parade through the town, made up of 200 currently serving personnel and 450 veterans. The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, took the salute as the parade arrived at the Dockyard.

Gordon Brown said:

"The people that have come here today have shown the high esteem and regard in which they hold the Armed Forces of our country.

"The Armed Forces who do so much, the families who make such sacrifices. I don't think we say thank you enough, today is our chance to say it and say it with one voice - thank you very much to our Armed Forces."

With so much to see and do, visitors had a challenging time packing everything in. The many exhibitions and displays offered the chance to glimpse life on the front line, with demonstrations of the latest equipment and technology.

There was music and song between the many formation and combat displays. Historic re-enactments provided a glimpse into history, and onlookers were wowed by a stunning tri-Service display on the River Medway. In the sky there was a breathtaking flypast from the veteran aircraft of the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and an appearance from the legendary Red Arrows.

Children and young people were kept particularly busy too, with digital shooting ranges, climbing and abseiling challenges, and an inflatable assault course that was much harder than it looked. There were also rides to be had in RAF fast jet simulators, from which many woozy people were seen emerging with wide grins on their faces, and all manner of tanks and vehicles were thrown open for exploration!

Parades by serving personnel and veterans were also held through the centre of numerous villages, towns and cities in the UK with the larger ones held in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh. A special event took place in London on Friday. See Related News >>>

In Edinburgh, around 500 Armed Forces personnel, including soldiers from The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, sailors from HMS Campbeltown and HMS Scotia, cadets and around 200 veterans, 'stepped off' from Edinburgh Castle Esplanade and marched to the Mound Precinct in front of the National Galleries.

Fresh from winning their Classical Brit Award last month, leading the parade and performing was The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Band. Following this there were various musical performances at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens where members of the public met Armed Forces personnel and tried their hand at various activities such as an inflatable assault course and a climbing tower.

Brigadier David Allfrey, Commander 51 (Scottish) Brigade, said:

"It's stunning to see how councils and communities across Scotland have fallen in behind the Armed Forces and are working tremendously hard to ensure they get a celebration they deserve. It means a great deal to us.

"This is the first year we've joined up with the veterans to celebrate Armed Forces Day and I am sure it will grow bigger each year. Armed Forces Day should be seen as distinct from Armistice Day on 11 November each year which is a day of reflection and remembrance of those who have fallen.

"27 June on the other hand should be a day of fun, pride and spectacle. Of course, we will also take time to think of those serving on operations abroad, and those who have been injured or have made the ultimate sacrifice in the course of their duty."

Thousands of people from across Birmingham turned out to celebrate the first Armed Forces Day where Birmingham City Council provided a whole day of music and festivities in Centenary Square.

The day started poignantly with the names of three Birmingham soldiers killed on recent operations being added to the book of remembrance in the city's magnificent Hall of Memory.

Following this, veterans and serving soldiers marched through the square and saluted the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Michael Wilkes.

In the North East of Britain, in County Durham, the Armed Forces Day flag was raised at the Durham Light Infantry Museum in Durham City with an appearance from a Fighter Hawk from 100 Squadron, RAF Leeming.

Kevan Jones, the Minister for Veterans and the MP for Durham North, said:

"The idea is to not only celebrate but thank our servicemen and women for their service on our behalf. Also, we remember the debt of honour for our veterans who have served in previous conflicts."

Perhaps the earliest event of the day was in the Kuwaiti desert where 450 soldiers, sailors and airmen took part in a special service to celebrate Armed Forces Day at 0400hrs to beat the blistering heat.

Meanwhile in Cardiff, which Gordon Brown announced as the host city for the main Armed Forces Day 2010 events, Minister for the Armed Forces Bill Rammell attended this year's events, which saw the 2010 Armed Forces Day flag brought to the city by the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team, a Spitfire flypast and a veterans parade through the city.

Mr Rammell said:

"It's a real attempt to recognise what the military do - those veterans in the past, those serving currently, and those who will serve in the future.

"I've visited our forces overseas and seen their absolute dedication and professionalism and you can see from the turnout today that people appreciate that effort.

"Today is a day of fun, pride and spectacle, and all of us connected to the Armed Forces are delighted with the country's response."