A flag raising ceremony is being held at Leicestershire County Council’s headquarters ahead of Armed Forces Day to show support for all our service personnel.
Armed Forces Day honours the huge contribution made by current and former members of the armed forces, their families, reservists and adult cadet volunteers, and is always well supported by the county council.
The County Council’s annual flag raising ceremony will take place at County Hall’s Stand Easy memorial at 10.30am on Monday 24 June. The service will include a welcome by Leicestershire County Council Chairman, Councillor Joe Orson, and an address by the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur OBE.
The Armed Forces Day flag will then be raised by veteran June Sisson, who served as a communications specialist in the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF).
Guests will include current members of the armed forces, veterans, and cadets. Pupils from the Hall Primary School in Glenfield will also be taking part in the flag raising event, with the reading of a poem.
The ceremony will conclude with prayers led by Reverend Christopher Johnson.
Leicestershire County Council Chairman, Councillor Joe Orson, said: “It is a great honour and privilege to be part of this national event to honour our armed forces and to show our appreciation for their vital service and dedication.
“Armed Forces Day is a way for us to join with people across the country to show our support for those men and women who currently serve and to remember those who have served in the past.”
Following the ceremony, the Armed Forces Day flag will continue to fly at County Hall until after the national Armed Forces Day on Saturday 29 June, which will be marked by a parade through Leicester city centre, starting from Belgrave Gate near to the Haymarket car park at 11am.
The parade will pass the Clock Tower and continue along High Street to Jubilee Square for an open-air Drumhead Service at 11.20am.
It will be made up of around 250 local veterans, cadets and reservists, serving members of the Armed Forces and the Pipes and Drums of the Seaforth Highlanders. Four horses and dogs from the Defence Animal Training Regiment will also take part in the parade.
The event is open to all, and members of the public are very welcome to attend. People are invited to share their experience of the event on social media, using the hashtag #LeicsAFD24
More information on Armed Forces Day 2024 and the events leading up to it is available on the Armed Forces Week website.