Plymouth's Armed Forces Day event returns in June
It's the first time it's run in the city for two years
It's been revealed Plymouth's Armed Forces Day event will return this summer.
It's happening at Plymouth Hoe on the 25th of June for the first time in two years.
There'll be parades, military vehicles, and live music - as well as a special parade of Falklands veterans to mark the fortieth anniversary of the conflict there.
A launch event took place today (17 March) hosted by 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery at the Royal Citadel.
Captain Chris Morris presented the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Terri Beer, with the Armed Forces Day flag before a ceremonial firing of the gun from the Citadel’s battlements.
Councillor Mark Deacon, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure and Sport at Plymouth City Council, said: “Armed Forces Day is not only a brilliant day out filled with fun activities for the whole family to enjoy, but also a hugely important opportunity for the people of Plymouth to show support for all members of the Armed Forces and their families, and to thank them for their hard work and dedication.
“Plymouth is incredibly proud of its military history and there’s much to celebrate this year. It was very fitting to host the launch at the Royal Citadel as this year the Commando Gunners will be celebrating their 60th anniversary with a parade through the city centre in May.”
Armed Forces Day in Plymouth - what's happening?
Armed Forces Day will start with the RAF and Allied Air Forces Memorial Service at 9.10am, followed by the main activities beginning at 10am.
The Parade of Standards, which is open to all veterans, will see veterans and cadets parade across the Hoe Promenade at 11am.
Visitors will also be able to chat to service personnel, with representatives from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Air Force and British Army all in attendance, hosting activities, displays and military vehicles in their own specific ‘villages’.
Members of the Fire Service, Devon and Cornwall Police, Coastguard Rescue Service and Dartmoor Search and Rescue will also be there on the day.
More than 70 organisations and charities will be represented within the Veterans’ Village, sponsored by the Royal British Legion, offering support and advice as well as information from training providers.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict, there will be a dedicated Falklands veterans’ parade, with any veteran that was involved in the conflict invited to join.
The arena programme will feature the Devonport Services Rugby Team showing off their skills, Field Gun tournaments and displays from local cadets and the City of Plymouth Pipe Band.
In the evening, there'll be a free music concert featuring the Military Wives Choir, Ocean City Sound barbershop chorus, local duo Roulette, Elton John tribute Absolutely Elton, and 2-Tone star Neville Staple's band From The Specials.
Find out more at plymoutharmedforcesday.co.uk.