Colchester to mark Armed Forces Day with fanfare and ceremony
They'll be raising the Armed Forces Day flag
Colchester will mark Armed Forces Day tomorrow (Monday) with a ceremony complete with military fanfare and the raising of the Armed Forces Day Flag.
A fanfare of trumpets from The Band of The Parachute Regiment is set to mark the day at 10am at the Town Hall.
Colchester Borough Council will join local authorities and community groups across the country by flying the Armed Forces Day flag in support of servicemen and women and for the wider Armed Forces community of families, veterans and cadets.
The Mayor of Colchester, Councillor Tim Young, said: “The raising of the Armed Forces Day flag gives us the opportunity to thank the military community, who have devoted their lives to protecting our nation.
"This year's Armed Forces Day event is particularly poignant as it coincides with the 40th Anniversary of the Falklands Conflict, which involved men of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions now based in Merville Barracks.
“We owe our serving military personnel, particularly the British Army’s airborne forces based here in Colchester, and veterans everywhere, a huge debt of gratitude. Their commitment and sacrifice, at home and abroad, continues to help ensure our liberty and security.”
The event will kick off a week of celebrations which will culminate in a free 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team and Colchester Garrison Show, taking place on Abbey Field on Saturday, 25th June.
It will feature a combat demonstration and showcase the skills and equipment of the town’s 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, the British Army’s global response force.
The Mayor hopes the town's relationship with the army will continue for many years to come: "Our connection with the Garrison goes back decades, if not centuries, and we're very proud to have them here.
"I know they love Colchester - we know a lot of veterans who serve in other places and then come back to Colchester after they've finished their service. So, it's a mutual relationship and one that we hope will continue for very many years."