George Square flag day for armed forces

Jun 25 2009 By Ben Spencer

Armed forces flags

Military will be honoured at city parade

A PAIR of specially-designed flags were raised in George Square on Monday to mark the start of a week of events celebrating the nation's armed forces.

Veterans John Lothian, 47, and 72-year-old Brian Searl raised the flags in a special celebration at 10.30am on Monday in a run up to Saturday's first Armed Forces Day.

The flags, which are based on the Union Flag, were raised in a ceremony intended to honour Britain's armed forces, past, present and future.

At the same time Armed Forces Day flags were raised in towns and cities throughout Britain to signal a week of events across the United Kingdom to celebrate the role our serving men and women play in preserving a free and safe society.

The culmination will be Armed Forces Day, which will include a parade in George Square led by veterans and veterans' associations. They will be followed by serving military who will march with the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Military music will also be provided by the Lowland Band and the Combined Pipes and Drums. Cadets from all three services will line the route.

At noon, Lord Provost Bob Winter, in his capacity as Lord Lieutenant, will take the salute at the march past the City Chambers.

The Rev Dr Laurence Whitley, minister at Glasgow Cathedral, will lead a short service before a bugler plays the last post and a piper follows with Flowers of the Forest.

There will then be a two-minute silence followed by a flypast by 42 Squadron RAF. The Lord Provost will lay a wreath and present 20 people with veterans' badges.

Celebrations will continue at a marquee reception with high tea and 1940s-style entertainment for more than 500 invited guests including Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy.

The Lord Provost said the celebrations are crucial to show that the whole of Glasgow is behind our military.

He said: "Our Armed Forces deserve our recognition because of their service, bravery and outstanding contribution to society.

"It is important that veterans and our serving and future military personnel know Glasgow and the whole of Britain supports them. We owe them a huge debt for the freedom and democracy we enjoy."

On Saturday there will also be military exhibits in George Square, including gun displays, information boards, information tents and activities.

There will also be welfare stands to raise awareness among veterans of the services available to them.