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Armed Forces Day: Liverpool leads events across country Armed Forces Day: Liverpool leads events across country
(about 2 hours later)
The UK's annual Armed Forces Day is taking place, with the national event in Liverpool one of more than a record 300 across the country. The UK's annual Armed Forces Day is taking place, with more than 300 events across the country.
The day is billed as a chance for people to show their support for those connected with the armed forces. The national event in Liverpool, attended by Prime Minister Theresa May and Prince Edward, saw a Red Arrows flypast and a parade to the waterfront.
Prime Minister Theresa May said that the armed forces are more relevant than ever after "playing a vital role" after the Manchester attack. Mrs May said that armed forces are more relevant than ever, "playing a vital role" after the Manchester attack.
In Liverpool, there was a parade to the Waterfront from St George's Hall. The day was billed as a chance for people to show their support for those connected with the armed forces.
As well as those currently serving, the day salutes veterans, reservists, cadets, families and charities. As well as those currently serving, the event honours veterans, reservists, cadets, families and charities.
Mrs May said that armed forces "provided visible reassurance to our communities" when they were deployed on the streets after the terror threat level was raised to critical. Parades, military displays, gun salutes and Typhoon and Red Arrows flypasts have been some of the highlights.
The Royal Navy's type-23 frigate HMS Iron Duke was docked in Liverpool for the celebrations. A series of displays along Pier head also took place featuring planes, helicopters, tanks and marching bands.
Mrs May praised the "tremendous job that the armed forces do for us here at home and across the world, helping to keep us safe".
She said that armed forces "provided visible reassurance to our communities" when they were deployed on the streets after the UK terror threat level was raised to critical.
Troops were deployed after 22 people were killed by suicide bomber Salman Abedi at the Manchester Arena on 22 May.Troops were deployed after 22 people were killed by suicide bomber Salman Abedi at the Manchester Arena on 22 May.
Mrs May, who is attending the Liverpool event, said it was an opportunity for thousands of people to show their "gratitude to the men and women who do so much to preserve our freedom." The parade in Liverpool comprised about 100 personnel from each of the services, plus bands, veterans and about 300 cadets.
The parade comprises about 100 personnel from each of the services, plus bands, veterans, and about 300 cadets. Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said there are some 10,000 service men and women who are working around the globe on operations or in British bases.
Other attractions include Typhoon and Red Arrows flypasts, HMS Iron Duke opening to visitors, dragon boat racing, a Royal Navy Wildcat (helicopter) flypast, and finale by the massed bands. "They've been helping to deal with terrorism, they've been helping to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean, they've been on Nato deployments, they've been peacekeeping in South Sudan.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said: "As we celebrate Armed Forces Day there are 10,000 regulars and reserve personnel serving now on Nato operations." "All of that keeps us safer here at home. They're out of our sight but they should never be out of mind," he said.
Current deployments include Royal Navy ships serving in the Gulf, and the Royal Air Force patrolling the Black Sea as part of Nato deployments, and the war against so-called Islamic State.