Saturday was the first ever Armed Forces Day in Britain, when members of the public give their thanks to the British Armed Forces.
Events were held the length and breadth of the country, from Land's End to John O'Groats.
The events included marches through the streets by military personnel, along roads lined by members of the public, wanting to show their gratitude to Our Boys and Girls.
One march in Scotland, though, was disrupted by violent thugs who called themselves Irish republicans, though whether they were Irish republicans or just troublemakers looking for an excuse to thuggery is open to debate.
We shouldn't have been too surprised that members of the British Armed Forces are abused by hooligans in Scotland. Scotland is a very violent place. It has Europe's second-highest murder rate (after only Finland), whereas England & Wales has Europe's second lowest murder rate.
And in 2005, even the UN named Scotland as the most violent place in the Western World.
A person in Scotland is three times more likely to be murdered than a person in England, so such violence and disrespect to British military personnel in Scotland is only to be expected.
Trouble flared in Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, on Saturday as a service for the Black Watch took place in George Square.
12 people were arrested after the sectarian violence which left one person injured.
Sectarianism is rife in Scotland, and even mars football matches.
Republican protesters disrupt soldiers' parade
Sunday 28th June 2009
The Guardian
Violent protests that disrupted a parade in Glasgow to acknowledge the courage of the country's troops were last night condemned as "sickening" by Scottish secretary Jim Murphy.
Trouble flared when the march was hijacked by an Irish republican group chanting sectarian songs. Scotland's inaugural Armed Forces Day parade was being led by veterans' associations and was conceived in part to pay tribute to soldiers of the Black Watch, who last night were embroiled in a dangerous operation to recapture Taliban-held territory in Helmand province.
The protestors are understood to have started chanting while a service was taking place in George Square yesterday afternoon. As fighting broke out shortly after midday, police took 12 men and a woman, all aged between 20 and 30, into custody. A 24-year-old man received a head injury in the fighting and was last night receiving treatment in Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The city's George Street was later closed off following exchanges between parade supporters and protestors.
Police promised a "thorough investigation" into those suspected of organising the protest. Strathclyde assistant chief constable George Hamilton said the behaviour of protestors was "despicable and completely unacceptable" and vowed to track down all those involved.
Murphy said: "These people may be able to make minor disruptions to a significant and serious event such as Armed Forces Day, but my message to them today is that they cannot win.
"They stand against every value the veterans we celebrated today fought - and died - for and must know that the majority of Scotland has no time or patience for their vile views. Sectarianism has no place in a modern and confident Scottish society."
Glasgow city council leader Steven Purcell also criticised the protests, saying: "This event honoured thousands of men and women who risked and gave their lives in defence of democracy in this country. Disrupting that is beneath contempt and anyone involved should be ashamed of themselves."
About 200 events, from parades to concerts, took place around the country. The Queen and the Prince of Wales sent messages highlighting the UK's "deep and enduring gratitude" to its past and present soldiers, sailors and airmen. The Queen met members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Edinburgh.
About 30,000 people turned out in Chatham, Kent for a national event marking the day. The official party included Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, and Defence Minister Kevan Jones.
"I think the courage of our forces in Afghanistan and the courage shown by the veterans here today ... is something of which we are extremely proud," the prime minister said. "Their service will never be forgotten."
guardian.co.uk
Events were held the length and breadth of the country, from Land's End to John O'Groats.
The events included marches through the streets by military personnel, along roads lined by members of the public, wanting to show their gratitude to Our Boys and Girls.
One march in Scotland, though, was disrupted by violent thugs who called themselves Irish republicans, though whether they were Irish republicans or just troublemakers looking for an excuse to thuggery is open to debate.
We shouldn't have been too surprised that members of the British Armed Forces are abused by hooligans in Scotland. Scotland is a very violent place. It has Europe's second-highest murder rate (after only Finland), whereas England & Wales has Europe's second lowest murder rate.
And in 2005, even the UN named Scotland as the most violent place in the Western World.
A person in Scotland is three times more likely to be murdered than a person in England, so such violence and disrespect to British military personnel in Scotland is only to be expected.
Trouble flared in Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, on Saturday as a service for the Black Watch took place in George Square.
12 people were arrested after the sectarian violence which left one person injured.
Sectarianism is rife in Scotland, and even mars football matches.
Republican protesters disrupt soldiers' parade
Sunday 28th June 2009
The Guardian
Violent protests that disrupted a parade in Glasgow to acknowledge the courage of the country's troops were last night condemned as "sickening" by Scottish secretary Jim Murphy.
Trouble flared when the march was hijacked by an Irish republican group chanting sectarian songs. Scotland's inaugural Armed Forces Day parade was being led by veterans' associations and was conceived in part to pay tribute to soldiers of the Black Watch, who last night were embroiled in a dangerous operation to recapture Taliban-held territory in Helmand province.
The protestors are understood to have started chanting while a service was taking place in George Square yesterday afternoon. As fighting broke out shortly after midday, police took 12 men and a woman, all aged between 20 and 30, into custody. A 24-year-old man received a head injury in the fighting and was last night receiving treatment in Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The city's George Street was later closed off following exchanges between parade supporters and protestors.
Police promised a "thorough investigation" into those suspected of organising the protest. Strathclyde assistant chief constable George Hamilton said the behaviour of protestors was "despicable and completely unacceptable" and vowed to track down all those involved.
Murphy said: "These people may be able to make minor disruptions to a significant and serious event such as Armed Forces Day, but my message to them today is that they cannot win.
"They stand against every value the veterans we celebrated today fought - and died - for and must know that the majority of Scotland has no time or patience for their vile views. Sectarianism has no place in a modern and confident Scottish society."
Glasgow city council leader Steven Purcell also criticised the protests, saying: "This event honoured thousands of men and women who risked and gave their lives in defence of democracy in this country. Disrupting that is beneath contempt and anyone involved should be ashamed of themselves."
About 200 events, from parades to concerts, took place around the country. The Queen and the Prince of Wales sent messages highlighting the UK's "deep and enduring gratitude" to its past and present soldiers, sailors and airmen. The Queen met members of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Edinburgh.
About 30,000 people turned out in Chatham, Kent for a national event marking the day. The official party included Gordon Brown and his wife, Sarah, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, and Defence Minister Kevan Jones.
"I think the courage of our forces in Afghanistan and the courage shown by the veterans here today ... is something of which we are extremely proud," the prime minister said. "Their service will never be forgotten."
guardian.co.uk