What is Armed Forces Day?

Armed Forces Day is an annual opportunity for the nation to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, and from cadets and veterans to recruits. It is taking place on Saturday 26 June this year.

The first Armed Forces Day took place in 2009, building on the success of what had previously been Veterans Day. Armed Forces Day was a great success, with the nation demonstrating an overwhelming show of support and appreciation.

During the 2009 Armed Forces Day celebrations, Armed Forces Minister, Bill Rammell officially announced at Coopers Field in Cardiff that Cardiff, capital city for Wales, would host the second Armed Forces Day national event on Saturday 26 June 2010.

Some of the highlights from 2009 were:

• Every local authority in Wales, England and Scotland and nearly all in Northern Ireland flew an Armed Forces Day flag. They were joined by Government departments, overseas territories and military bases across the world.
• The Armed Forces Day flag sold out in its thousands, with people wanting to fly their own flag or hang it from their windows.
• More than 180 community-based events took place, with the national event at Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent attracting a capacity crowd of 30,000.
• Thousands of people joined the Armed Forces Day Facebook group to show their support and to receive frequent updates on what was being planned, and the fan base is increasing daily as more of you SHOW YOUR SUPPORT.
• Support from the media was immense, with coverage from the flag raising at the beginning of the week right through to after the event. Local, regional and national media covered the day, online, in print, on radio and on TV.

Across the country this year people are making plans to support the day again: communities are organising local events and many businesses are showing their support through promotional offers for the Armed Forces community.

The Cardiff Armed Forces Day website contains lots of information on the national event, and how you can get involved. If you want to know more information about what's happening right across the UK, and other ways you can support the day visit the national Armed Forces Day website.

Armed Forces Day will take place on the last Saturday in June each year, due to the feedback on the success of
holding the event on the weekend.  This offers both the
public and the Armed Forces community the best opportunity
to get involved and attend an event.

ID: 95   Revised: 9/3/2010