Chelmsford marks Armed Forces Week

Chelmsford City Council raised an Armed Forces Day flag on Monday to mark Armed Forces Week.

The city council joins a host of other local authorities raising the specially commissioned flags across the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man. The raising of the flag honours Britain’s Armed Forces of the past, present, and future. It’s a chance to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to service families, veterans, and cadets.

Ceremony led by Mayor of Chelmsford

The flag was raised during a brief ceremony led by the Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Linda Mascot. The Mayor said a few words before her Chaplain, Pastor James Bell, read a prayer.

“

"We owe an incredible debt of gratitude to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces.

They are the ultimate protectors of our peace and security, and indeed our whole way of life, in defending the United Kingdom and many other countries around the world, on our behalf.

Each one of our soldiers, sailors and airmen is also a wife, husband, father or mother, a son or a daughter, and we recognize the enormous contribution and support that families give to their loved ones in the Armed Forces, through good times and bad.

The raising of the Armed Forces flag gives us the opportunity to show our respect, our admiration, and our gratitude."

Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Linda Mascot

To find out how you can get involved in Armed Forces Day 2023, which takes place on Saturday 24 June, visit www.armedforcesday.org.uk/get-involved