Liverpool is getting ready once again to celebrate Armed Forces Day on Saturday 30 June. Festivities will begin with a Drumhead Service at Our Lady & St Nicholas Church, Old Church Yard, Liverpool, L2 8GW. Arrival will be at 10:00am, and the Service will start at 10:30am and is due to finish at 11:00am.
This will be followed by a Parade led by the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Artillery 103 Regiment, from Chapel Street, along The Strand to The Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, where the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Christine Banks and Liverpool City Council Armed Forces Champion, Mr Ian Francis will speak. Following an Inspection of those on Parade, Danielle Louise Thomas will sing the National Anthem.
From 10:00am – 4:00pm, there will be a Military Exhibition at The Royal Albert Dock, with entertainment and performances taking place from 12:00noon – 4:00pm.
In addition to the above, local artist Simon Armstrong has created a ‘Tree of Thanks’ that will be on display at The Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, where people are encouraged to write messages of thanks to our Armed Force ‘branches’ and hang their message on the tree.
Armed Forces Day is an opportunity for the city to show its support for the Armed Forces and say thank you to the troops and their families for all they do for us year-round. Service personnel, both Regular and Reserve, from the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Cadets and Veterans will be attending the service and the following events.
Ian Francis, Armed Forces Champion for Liverpool said;
‘To be celebrating our Armed forces and Reserve forces is something as a city we look forward to every year. Having the opportunity to thank Regulars and Reserves is incredibly important for us,
Liverpool has a very long and proud tradition of supporting the services and being Armed Forces friendly.’
Simon Armstrong, local artist said;
‘I was thrilled to be asked to create the ‘Tree of Thanks’ for Liverpool’s Armed Forces Day celebration. It’s such a wonderful project for a great cause.
I hope people enjoy writing their messages and placing them on the tree. The Armed Forces give up so much for us all and it’s a pleasure to be able to show gratitude.
The city recently celebrated the 100th Anniversary of HMS Eaglet on Wednesday 27 June. A Drum and Flag Service of commemoration took place at 7:30pm, Exchange Flags, coinciding with Reserves Day (pictured below).
The Reserve Forces make up approximately one sixth of our Armed Forces personnel and as such are integral to protecting the national security at home and overseas, particularly providing capability in specialist areas such as medical and cyber security.’
Plans for Armed Forces Day are as follows;
Saturday 30 June 2018
1o:00am: Arrival at St Nicholas Church
10:30am: Parade commences, led by the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Artillery 103 Regiment, from Chapel Street, along The Strand to The Royal Albert Dock Liverpool
11:00am: Parade due to arrive at The Royal Albert Dock Liverpool
10:00am – 4:00pm: Military Exhibition at Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, with entertainment and performances taking place from 12:00 – 16:00.
Forces that will be represented on the day:
- Merseyside Army Cadet Force
- Liverpool Veterans
- RAF Recruitment
- Age UK
- Royal British Legion
- WMCO Merseyside Air Cadets
- 156 Regiment RLC
- Navy Regional Command Headquarters Northern England
- HMS Prince of Wales (the HMS Prince of Wales ship is affiliated with the City of Liverpool)
- 208 Field Hospital – Display Unit
Performances will include:
- Local award-winning, operatic sensation, Danielle Louise Thomas(Performance Programme Opening)
- Ben Cosgrove Dance
- Artemis Productions – Funnels
- The Choral Pavilion
- Boxing with Crabs
- KATUMBA
You can share and follow activities on Twitter with @ArmedForcesDay and using #SaluteOurForces.
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