The beginning of a nationwide week of Armed Forces Day celebrations has been marked by the Mayor of Farnham, Councillor Alan Earwaker who paid tribute to servicemen, and women and veterans in a flag-raising ceremony.
The Mayor raised the Armed Forces Day flag on Monday 21 June in the presence of representatives from Farnham’s armed forces.
The small, socially distanced gathering included Captain Willie McKean and CSgt Dean Smith, A Company, 4thBattalion Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (PWRR); members from the West Surrey Branch of the Queen’s & Princess of Wales’s Royal Regimental Association and Ian Hunter and Gary Grant from the Farnham Branch of the Royal British Legion.
After raising the flag, the Mayor said: “In this centenary year of the Royal British Legion, I am pleased to have the opportunity to acknowledge and thank the men and women who currently serve or those who have previously served their country.
“This simple act of a flag-raising shows our support for the Armed Forces who are busy working around the world, promoting peace, delivering aid, tackling drug smugglers, providing security and fighting terrorism.”
He added: “I should also like to mention our veterans and the important work they do in providing support for former soldiers in comradeship and with financial support through organisations like the Army Benevolent Fund, SSAFA, combat stress, and BLESMA…to name but a few.”
The (PWRR) Reservists, or The Tigers as they are also known, are based in Farnham. Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces, balancing their civilian life with a military career.
The Reserve Forces make up around one sixth of our Armed Forces personnel. Their valuable contribution was recognised, as part of Armed Forces Week, on Reserves Day on 23 June.
