On Monday 23 June, Guildford will be raising the Armed Forces Day flag at the Guildhall to honour Britain’s Armed Forces. Armed Forces Day is on the following Saturday (28 June) and so flying the flag in town will mark the beginning of the week leading up to the Freedom Parade.
There will be a special flag-raising ceremony at the Guildhall on Monday at 12 noon where representatives of our local military and civilian community will be joined by a local veteran, a cadet, a serving soldier and Col (Retd) P Crowley. The Mayor of Guildford and the Leader of Guildford Borough Council, Cllr Stephen Mansbridge will also be in attendance. At approximately 12.30pm, a bugler from the Friary Guildford Brass Band will play “The Rouse” as the flag is raised.
The Mayor, Cllr David Elms has commented, “Armed Forces Day is a great opportunity for us to show our appreciation for the contribution made by our service men and women – past, present and future. Guildford has a proud tradition of supporting the military and flying the flag for Armed Forces Day will help raise awareness of the vital role of our Armed Forces.”
The flag will remain in place until after Saturday 28 June and on Armed Forces Day itself, the 3rd Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment will march through Guildford town centre exercising their Freedom of the Borough.
At 2.15pm, the parade will start from the Town Bridge and there will be a short service and inspection, followed by a reception for the troops and their families at Holy Trinity Church. The Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Dame Sarah Goad DCVO, JP, will take the salute from the Guildhall balcony, where she will also be joined by the Mayor of Guildford and Col (Retd) P Crowley.
Throughout the day, cadets will be collecting for the Mayor’s chosen charity, the Army Benevolent Fund Surrey – The Soldiers Charity. So please show your support and head down on Monday (23 June) and Saturday (28 June) to contribute in celebrating our Armed Forces.
James Martin
Image sourced from: http://tinyurl.com/kyro7x3