WIREDGOV

Fly the Flag for our Armed Forces

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE News Release (084/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 28 April 2009

The MOD is encouraging councils, businesses and homes across the country to show their support for Britain's Armed Forces by flying a special flag designed for Armed Forces Day.

The Armed Forces Day Flag - available to order from today - will be flown to mark the first ever national Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 June 2009. This new annual event celebrates the UK's Armed Forces - past, present and future.

Hundreds of councils have pledged to raise the Armed Forces Day Flag at 10.30am on Monday 22 June to officially commence a week of celebrations in honour of our Armed Forces and now businesses and homes will be able to join them in showing their backing for the Forces.

The centrepiece of the celebrations on 27 June will be the historic dockyard at Chatham, Kent, and dozens of events are planned around the country to show appreciation for Her Majesty's Forces. Major celebrations will take place in Cardiff, Glasgow, Blackpool, Portsmouth, Nottingham, Southend, Edinburgh, Caernarfon, Birmingham, Manchester, Stirling and Plymouth, among others.

Armed Forces Day at Chatham will include fly-pasts by historic and current aircraft, including the Red Arrows, have-a-go activities with the Armed Forces and a veteran's parade in the Dockyard. Cardiff will see displays from the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team and the Red Devils, the Parachute Regiment Freefall Team, along with music from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and the Welsh Guards Band.

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in Afghanistan yesterday:

"Britain's armed forces are second to none, and the whole country owes them an enormous debt of gratitude. Our troops risk their lives fighting the agents of terror here on the front line in Afghanistan to keep the streets of Britain safe, and they are a force for good standing up for the UK's interests right across the world.

"Armed Forces Day is our chance to say thank you. I'm proud to be out here in Helmand province launching the Armed Forces Day flags campaign - I urge everyone to send off for this specially designed flag and fly it with pride."

Veterans Minister Kevan Jones said:

"The men and women of Armed Forces make huge personal sacrifices to defend the UK and their efforts deserve support and recognition. Flying this new flag gives the public, businesses and councils across the country the chance to show their appreciation for the important job that they do.

"The purpose of Armed Forces Day is to celebrate what our veterans have already achieved, what our current personnel continue to achieve, and the opportunities the Armed Forces offer our future generations. The Armed Forces Day Flag sends out a clear message of gratitude that will be appreciated by all our service personnel, past, present and future."

The design of the Armed Forces Day flag is based on the Union Jack and it measures 5ft by 3ft. Flags cost £10, which includes postage and packaging to UK addresses, VAT and a £1 donation by the flag supplier, Piggotts, to the Forces Children's Trust, a charity devoted to helping dependent children that have lost a parent whilst serving with the Armed Forces.

Those interested in ordering an Armed Forces Day Flag should visit http://www.piggotts.co.uk or email armedforcesdayflag@piggotts.co.uk.

Notes to Editors:

1. An image of the Armed Forces Day flag is attached.

2. All orders must be received by 31 May 2009 to guarantee delivery by 19 June. Flags will be sent out from 1 June.

3. Further information on Armed Forces Day and a full list of events confirmed so far are available at: http://www.armedforcesday.org.uk

4. Further information on the Forces Children's Trust is available at http://www.forceschildrenstrust.org.

5. For further information, contact Tom Bennett, Ministry of Defence Press Office, 0207 218 5083.