Flags raised for Armed Forces day 25.06.12
6Armed Forces Day celebrations have begun with thousands of Armed Forces Day flags being raised across the UK.
Plymouth is this year's National Host City, and today veterans and local school children joined forces with Royal Navy Personnel and Royal Marines to hoist the Armed Forces Day flag for the first time, heralding a week of events culminating in Armed Forces Day itself on Saturday.
In London, the flag has been raised on various famous landmarks, including government buildings in Whitehall and 10 Downing Street, the City of London Guildhall and outside the Mayor of London's Office, where Mayor Boris Johnson has signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant.
Around the country, communities large and small will fly the flag to show support, including Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast, Blackpool and Darlington.
Overseas, the flag will also be raised for the UK Armed Forces. In Afghanistan, the Armed Forces Day flag is to be proudly hung from UK bases.
Chief of the Defence Staff Sir David Richards said: "Armed Forces Day is now in its fourth year. It has established itself in the calendar as an opportunity for the nation to show support for the Armed Forces.
"'Flying the Flag' is an excellent way to show your support, demonstrating how much we care for our Servicemen and women, past and present, who continue to rise to the very difficult challenge of defending this country and our interests."
Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Michael Wright, said: "Plymouth is incredibly proud to be hosting the Armed Forces Day National Event, particularly during such a special year for the United Kingdom.
"This is a chance to honour our servicemen and women and pay tribute to their courage, their dedication and the enormous sacrifices they make for each and every one of us.
"We look forward to welcoming serving personnel, veterans, Reservists, cadets and their families to our historic waterfront on Saturday and staging a national celebration to remember."
After today's flag-raising, a week of celebrations will take place in the run up to Armed Forces Day on 30 June, with more than 200 events large and small planned across the UK.