Flying the Armed Forces Day flag
Hundreds of locations across the UK have kick-started their Armed Forces Day celebrations by raising the flag.
![Service personnel prepare to raise the Armed Forces Day flag at Stirling Castle [Picture: Mark Owens, Crown copyright]](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/image_data/file/27761/s300_HQSCOT-2014-051-7519g.jpg)
Service personnel prepare to raise the Armed Forces Day flag at Stirling Castle
Today, 23 June, 10 Downing Street, local authorities, government departments and businesses across the UK have been flying the Armed Forces Day flag in support of the men and women of our armed forces, past and present.
This year’s national event, taking place on Saturday, 28 June, will be hosted by Stirling Council.
Stirling raised the flag above the iconic Stirling Castle ahead of Saturday’s celebrations, which will include a tri-service parade of personnel, veterans and cadets marching from the fortress to the field below.
Pipers from the London Irish Rifles Army Reserve provide musical entertainment as the Armed Forces Day flag is raised outside City Hall in London [Picture: Sergeant Steve Blake RLC, Crown copyright]
Rear Admiral Simon Williams is the Defence Services Secretary and the Ministry of Defence policy lead for Armed Forces Day. He said:
Saturday 28 June 2014 marks the sixth Armed Forces Day and it is very heartening to see the support that the people of the United Kingdom continue to give to the armed forces.
The respect and appreciation shown on Armed Forces Day by the people in communities up and down the country goes a long way to sustaining the high morale of the armed forces family, including regulars, reservists, veterans and their families.
The Deputy Commander of London District and the Mayor of London at City Hall for the Armed Forces Day flag-raising ceremony [Picture: Sergeant Steve Blake RLC, Crown copyright]
The sixth annual Armed Forces Day has attracted a host of supporters from businesses such as British Telecom, NatWest, ASDA and National Express to celebrities including Andy Murray, Darcey Bussell and Stephen Fry.
If you have a Facebook or Twitter account, you can show your support by adding the Armed Forces Day twibbon to your profile.