Record year for Armed Forces Day.
The RAF made a full show of
force with multiple displays, performances and public engagement at the Armed
Forces Day 2017 National Event. Hosted by the City of
Liverpool, the event led the nation in the annual opportunity for members of
the public to to say thank you to the entire Armed Forces
community for the outstanding work they do. All three Services were represented
along with reserve and cadet forces plus members of the veteran community.
This year was a record Armed Forces Day with over 300 events being held
across the UK and overseas. In Liverpool the Lord Mayor highlighted during
his closing address that an estimated 200,000 people had visited the Armed
Forces National Event over the weekend. This level
of support from the public shows their appreciation for those serving personnel
who dedicate their lives to defending our country and keeping British people
safe. It also demonstrates the public’s gratitude to the veterans who in
their turn gave so much.
In Liverpool more than 300 RAF personnel were involved with the event.
The Queen’s Colour Squadron marched in the grand parade accompanied by
the Band of the RAF Regiment and flypasts were performed by the Typhoon, the
Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. On the ground
the ‘RAF Military
Village’ was sited in a prime location on the Pier Head in front of Liverpool’s
three iconic buildings and was visited by the Earl of Wessex, the Prime
Minister, the Defence Secretary, VCDS along with the Lord Mayor of Liverpool and
many other local dignitaries. The RAF Village, manned by 90 personnel,
was an extremely vibrant place to be and here visitors
could get a close look at the equipment currently used by the RAF plus the
public also had the chance to talk to serving men and women from the RAF and
RAuxAF.
Wing Commander Chris Lindsay, the RAF lead for the National Event, said
“I am so proud of everyone who took part. The people of Liverpool have made us
all feel very welcome and valued for what we do”.
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