PAUL KEETCH MP, "FANTASTIC: FLAGS FOR ARMED FORCES DAY!"

4.36.18pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 22nd Jun 2009

Paul Keetch MP is delighted that on Monday 22 June at 1000, Herefordshire Council will join hundreds of councils right across the country in raising a flag to support Britain's first ever Armed Forces Day.

In addition to more than 450 local authorities, over three thousand members of the public, businesses and schools will also fly official Armed Forces Day flags to join the celebrations to honour Britain's Armed Forces - past, present and future.

The specially designed flags, based on the Union Jack, will be raised together, in ceremonies across the country. This marks the beginning of a week of events leading up to Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 June.

Armed Forces Day flags will also be flown where British Servicemen and women are serving overseas, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, Cyprus, Germany, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.

Commenting, Paul Keetch MP said, "Every day the men and women of our Armed Forces make personal sacrifices for us, a sacrifice often shared with their families and often felt in the city of Hereford. Armed Forces Day is an opportunity for Hereford and the whole country to show appreciation of our service personnel. Where those councils, businesses, schools and members of the public show their support by flying a flag will mean a great deal, particularly to those serving in our armed forces today."