Cheering crowds and scorching weather greeted British troops yesterday, the 26th June, during only the second Armed Forces Day.
The new national day, which started last year, looks like being a permanent fixture in Britain's calendar thanks to its success.
This year, the main focal point of the national celebration of our troops was Cardiff, Wales's capital city. Wales has a higher percentage of its population serving in the British Army than England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, although of the 307 British deaths in Afghanistan so far, around 77% are soldiers from England.
Hundreds of troops, many in their combat gear but equally as many in their extravagant and colourful uniforms, marched through Cardiff, and the falling tickertape, cheered on by a crowd of 50,000 people. Also attending the event were prince Charles, his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, the outgoing Chief of the Defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, and the Defence Secretary, Liam Fox.
The Queen, a World War II veteran, also sent a message of support to Our Boys and Girls, saying: ‘The men and women of our Armed Forces have always been admirable examples of professionalism and courage’
Then, as now, they perform their duties in often the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances, both at home and overseas.’
Cardiff may have held the main ceremony, but 350 other celebrations of our Armed Forces were held throughout the UK. The head of the Army, General Sir David Richards, watched the celebrations in Edinburgh and the head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, watched the Manchester event. A patriotic knitting exhibition took place in Hereford.
The events have been hailed as elevating British troops to rock star status throughout the country. ‘When men and women walk through the streets in uniform like this it makes them feel 10ft tall,’ said Captain Jimmy Carroll, of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards.
It's not just full-time troops who are being celebrated - Britain's part-timers, such as the Territorials, are thanked. Hundreds of Territorial Army volunteers were allowed to wear their Army uniforms to work, weather they are binmen or office workers.
Also attending the events in Cardiff, where speeches were made in Welsh as well as English, were many World War II veterans. The Red Arrows performed a flyover, trailing red, white and blue smoke. There was also a flyover performed by two British favourites of World War II - a Spitfire and a Hurricane.
With this year's Armed Forces Day, just the second ever held, being a huge success, it looks like it may now be a permanent event.
In Afghanistan, 18 British soldiers have died in the last month alone, including 9 in a week.
Salute the heroes: Prince Charles leads tribute to Services on Armed Forces Day
By Mail On Sunday Reporter
27th June 2010
Daily Mail
The heroism and sacrifices of servicemen and women in Afghanistan was saluted yesterday as Britain celebrated Armed Forces Day.
Troops were cheered by a 50,000-strong crowd in the main parade in Cardiff, one of 350 staged nationwide in the second annual tribute to the bravery of the Services.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall joined the outgoing Chief of the Defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, and Defence Secretary Liam Fox to watch the outpouring of patriotism in Cardiff.
The Prince of Wales accompanied by The Duchess of Cornwall (left) takes the salute as the flags of the Royal British Legion parade through Cardiff
The Welsh Guards led by the regimental mascot - a goat - parade through the streets of Cardiff
Pride: Soldiers march past the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay as they assemble for the service
The Queen, who sent a message of support, said the troops operated in the ‘most difficult and dangerous of circumstances’.
‘The men and women of our Armed Forces have always been admirable examples of professionalism and courage,’ she said.
‘Then, as now, they perform their duties in often the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances, both at home and overseas.’
Hazel Hunt, from Abergavenny, whose son Richard, 21, of 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh, became the 200th Briton killed in Afghanistan when his Warrior armoured vehicle was blown up last August, said the celebration provided a ‘comfort’.
The Royal Navy was represented in the parade. Forces personnel marched in cities across the country
The Prince of Wales is joined by his wife Camilla as the flags of the Royal British Legion parade through Cardiff to commemorate Armed Forces Day
'The event is fantastic,’ said Mrs Hunt, 50.
‘It brings the Armed Forces to the public’s notice even more. It is a comfort but it’s slightly sad because this is the sort of thing Richard would have probably got involved with.
Soldiers march from Cardiff Castle watched by a large crowd ahead of the main ceremony
‘But it’s nice to see them all and everybody seems to be having a lovely day. These are ordinary people who do an extraordinary job. I am very proud of Richard.’
Other major celebrations were held in Edinburgh, before the head of the Army, General Sir David Richards, and in Manchester, watched by the head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope.
A host of smaller celebrations took place in towns and villages nationwide, ranging from parades and military displays to a mass skydive in fancy dress and a ‘patriotic knitting’ exhibition in Hereford.
Ticker tape and confetti rains down on the marching troops
A total of 307 UK servicemen and women have died in Afghanistan since October 2001. Eighteen have been killed in the past month, including nine in seven days.
Armed Forces Day was created last year following criticism that Britain did not do enough to recognise its real heroes.
The celebration was hailed for elevating the status of military personnel to ‘rock star’ levels.
‘When men and women walk through the streets in uniform like this it makes them feel 10ft tall,’ said Captain Jimmy Carroll, of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards.
‘The guys out in Afghanistan know that people are out marching today and that the crowds are out.
Around 50,000 people cheered under the blazing sun as serving men and women were joined by veterans and cadets to the sound of a military brass band
‘They know that they can come home and come back to massive public support. It is exactly like being a rock star.’
Raymond Westacott, 86, a wartime RAF veteran from Cardiff, said: ‘Each person standing here now watching this parade owes a debt to the men and women in the forces past and present.
There are also a host of smaller functions in towns and villages nationwide, ranging from parades and military displays to a mass skydive in fancy dress and a "patriotic knitting" exhibition
'If you look around here at the public, they mostly range from six to 60 years old.
‘They have no recollection of the bombing suffered by the populations of many cities, and it is good to refresh their minds.
‘An event like this is important because you just do not forget the past or the present.’
Crowds enjoy the glorious weather as they watch members of the British Legion march past in Cardiff
Members of the Royal Air Force regiment march through Cardiff city centre
Wimbledon joined the tributes by inviting 14 servicemen and women into the Royal box on Centre Court.
The group received a standing ovation as they took their seats for Serena Williams’s victory over Dominika Cibulkova.
There was a fly past by a Spitfire and Lancaster
dailymail.co.uk
The new national day, which started last year, looks like being a permanent fixture in Britain's calendar thanks to its success.
This year, the main focal point of the national celebration of our troops was Cardiff, Wales's capital city. Wales has a higher percentage of its population serving in the British Army than England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, although of the 307 British deaths in Afghanistan so far, around 77% are soldiers from England.
Hundreds of troops, many in their combat gear but equally as many in their extravagant and colourful uniforms, marched through Cardiff, and the falling tickertape, cheered on by a crowd of 50,000 people. Also attending the event were prince Charles, his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, the outgoing Chief of the Defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, and the Defence Secretary, Liam Fox.
The Queen, a World War II veteran, also sent a message of support to Our Boys and Girls, saying: ‘The men and women of our Armed Forces have always been admirable examples of professionalism and courage’
Then, as now, they perform their duties in often the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances, both at home and overseas.’
Cardiff may have held the main ceremony, but 350 other celebrations of our Armed Forces were held throughout the UK. The head of the Army, General Sir David Richards, watched the celebrations in Edinburgh and the head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, watched the Manchester event. A patriotic knitting exhibition took place in Hereford.
The events have been hailed as elevating British troops to rock star status throughout the country. ‘When men and women walk through the streets in uniform like this it makes them feel 10ft tall,’ said Captain Jimmy Carroll, of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards.
It's not just full-time troops who are being celebrated - Britain's part-timers, such as the Territorials, are thanked. Hundreds of Territorial Army volunteers were allowed to wear their Army uniforms to work, weather they are binmen or office workers.
Also attending the events in Cardiff, where speeches were made in Welsh as well as English, were many World War II veterans. The Red Arrows performed a flyover, trailing red, white and blue smoke. There was also a flyover performed by two British favourites of World War II - a Spitfire and a Hurricane.
With this year's Armed Forces Day, just the second ever held, being a huge success, it looks like it may now be a permanent event.
In Afghanistan, 18 British soldiers have died in the last month alone, including 9 in a week.
Salute the heroes: Prince Charles leads tribute to Services on Armed Forces Day
By Mail On Sunday Reporter
27th June 2010
Daily Mail
The heroism and sacrifices of servicemen and women in Afghanistan was saluted yesterday as Britain celebrated Armed Forces Day.
Troops were cheered by a 50,000-strong crowd in the main parade in Cardiff, one of 350 staged nationwide in the second annual tribute to the bravery of the Services.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall joined the outgoing Chief of the Defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, and Defence Secretary Liam Fox to watch the outpouring of patriotism in Cardiff.
The Prince of Wales accompanied by The Duchess of Cornwall (left) takes the salute as the flags of the Royal British Legion parade through Cardiff
The Welsh Guards led by the regimental mascot - a goat - parade through the streets of Cardiff
Pride: Soldiers march past the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay as they assemble for the service
The Queen, who sent a message of support, said the troops operated in the ‘most difficult and dangerous of circumstances’.
‘The men and women of our Armed Forces have always been admirable examples of professionalism and courage,’ she said.
‘Then, as now, they perform their duties in often the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances, both at home and overseas.’
Hazel Hunt, from Abergavenny, whose son Richard, 21, of 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh, became the 200th Briton killed in Afghanistan when his Warrior armoured vehicle was blown up last August, said the celebration provided a ‘comfort’.
The Royal Navy was represented in the parade. Forces personnel marched in cities across the country
The Prince of Wales is joined by his wife Camilla as the flags of the Royal British Legion parade through Cardiff to commemorate Armed Forces Day
'The event is fantastic,’ said Mrs Hunt, 50.
‘It brings the Armed Forces to the public’s notice even more. It is a comfort but it’s slightly sad because this is the sort of thing Richard would have probably got involved with.
Soldiers march from Cardiff Castle watched by a large crowd ahead of the main ceremony
‘But it’s nice to see them all and everybody seems to be having a lovely day. These are ordinary people who do an extraordinary job. I am very proud of Richard.’
Other major celebrations were held in Edinburgh, before the head of the Army, General Sir David Richards, and in Manchester, watched by the head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope.
A host of smaller celebrations took place in towns and villages nationwide, ranging from parades and military displays to a mass skydive in fancy dress and a ‘patriotic knitting’ exhibition in Hereford.
Ticker tape and confetti rains down on the marching troops
A total of 307 UK servicemen and women have died in Afghanistan since October 2001. Eighteen have been killed in the past month, including nine in seven days.
Armed Forces Day was created last year following criticism that Britain did not do enough to recognise its real heroes.
The celebration was hailed for elevating the status of military personnel to ‘rock star’ levels.
‘When men and women walk through the streets in uniform like this it makes them feel 10ft tall,’ said Captain Jimmy Carroll, of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards.
‘The guys out in Afghanistan know that people are out marching today and that the crowds are out.
Around 50,000 people cheered under the blazing sun as serving men and women were joined by veterans and cadets to the sound of a military brass band
‘They know that they can come home and come back to massive public support. It is exactly like being a rock star.’
Raymond Westacott, 86, a wartime RAF veteran from Cardiff, said: ‘Each person standing here now watching this parade owes a debt to the men and women in the forces past and present.
There are also a host of smaller functions in towns and villages nationwide, ranging from parades and military displays to a mass skydive in fancy dress and a "patriotic knitting" exhibition
'If you look around here at the public, they mostly range from six to 60 years old.
‘They have no recollection of the bombing suffered by the populations of many cities, and it is good to refresh their minds.
‘An event like this is important because you just do not forget the past or the present.’
Crowds enjoy the glorious weather as they watch members of the British Legion march past in Cardiff
Members of the Royal Air Force regiment march through Cardiff city centre
Wimbledon joined the tributes by inviting 14 servicemen and women into the Royal box on Centre Court.
The group received a standing ovation as they took their seats for Serena Williams’s victory over Dominika Cibulkova.
There was a fly past by a Spitfire and Lancaster
dailymail.co.uk
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