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UK armed forces to be celebrated Armed Forces Day gets under way
(about 2 hours later)
Celebrations for the UK's first Armed Forces Day are to be held later. Hundreds of events are taking place in towns and cities around the UK to mark the first ever Armed Forces Day.
The events are intended to thank current serving troops, their families and veterans for their contribution. Thousands are expected to take part in the celebrations intended to thank serving troops, their families and veterans for their contribution.
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said it should be "a celebration of the armed forces in all of their glory, not just what they do while they're in service". A national event is currently taking place at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent.
It used to be called Veteran's Day but was changed by the government to raise awareness and appreciation of all those serving in Britain's military. About 200 serving members of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF have paraded through the town along with 450 veterans.
The Queen has sent a message of thanks to British servicemen and women, past and present, to mark the day. Some 30,000 people have tickets for that event, which will also include fly-pasts by the Red Arrows and the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial display team.
Now you can see lots of organisations - small businesses, large businesses, communities - trying to show their appreciation Bob Ainsworth, Defence Secretary Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, are among the attending dignitaries.
It was delivered to the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, who will be among the dignitaries at the national commemoration event taking place at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. Raise awareness
Major celebrations will also be held on Saturday in cities around the country, including Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester and Plymouth. Both the Queen and the Prince of Wales sent messages of "deep and enduring gratitude" to Britain's past and present soldiers, sailors and airmen and women.
These will take the form of Proms-style concerts and parades, among others. The Queen will be in Edinburgh, where she will present campaign medals to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards as the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief.
'Debt of gratitude' In addition to the national event, concerts and parades are being held in towns and cities, including Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester and Plymouth.
During the week, more than 3,000 Armed Forces Day flags were flown by councils, businesses, schools and homes across the UK.
It used to be called Veterans Day but was changed by the government to raise awareness and appreciation of all those serving in Britain's military.
'Show appreciation'
Speaking during his first visit to Afghanistan since taking over as defence secretary, Mr Ainsworth said the new day honouring service personnel would be a "huge fillip" to troops.Speaking during his first visit to Afghanistan since taking over as defence secretary, Mr Ainsworth said the new day honouring service personnel would be a "huge fillip" to troops.
The lack of recognition extended to the armed forces in recent years was "not acceptable", he said.The lack of recognition extended to the armed forces in recent years was "not acceptable", he said.
He referred to young soldiers he once spoke to, who had recently returned from theatre shortly after he became a defence minister in 2007.He referred to young soldiers he once spoke to, who had recently returned from theatre shortly after he became a defence minister in 2007.
"They were telling me at that time that they didn't tend to talk about what they had been up to because people weren't interested," he said."They were telling me at that time that they didn't tend to talk about what they had been up to because people weren't interested," he said.
We know how high the human costs are, and how much we owe to those who live daily with such costs Archbishop of Canterbury
"I just thought that that was so depressing. Now you can see lots of organisations - small businesses, large businesses, communities - trying to show their appreciation."I just thought that that was so depressing. Now you can see lots of organisations - small businesses, large businesses, communities - trying to show their appreciation.
"And it is just phenomenally important. It's a huge improvement on the situation that was existing a couple of years ago.""And it is just phenomenally important. It's a huge improvement on the situation that was existing a couple of years ago."
Mr Ainsworth also said the full contribution made to society by ex-service personnel should be recognised.Mr Ainsworth also said the full contribution made to society by ex-service personnel should be recognised.
"It's got to be a celebration of the armed forces in all of their glory, not just what they do while they're in service, but the contribution that they make when they go back into civilian life," he said."It's got to be a celebration of the armed forces in all of their glory, not just what they do while they're in service, but the contribution that they make when they go back into civilian life," he said.
'Human costs'
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said the "tragic costs of war" had been brought home to people "in a way most of us have not experienced before or have not experienced for very many years".
He added: "We know how high the human costs are, and how much we owe to those who live daily with such costs.
"The professionalism and responsibility they regularly show, as well as their courage in the field, are deeply appreciated, and it is right that they should be nationally recognised on this Armed Forces Day."
Veterans minister Kevan Jones said: "I am grateful to the people who have organised events in the run-up to Armed Forces Day.
"It will mean a great deal, particularly to those serving this country today and also the thousands of veterans to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude for their role in securing our freed."
OmanBahrainQatarKuwaitDarfurSudanDemocratic Republic CongoFalkland IslandsAscension IslandOtherDiego GarciaAfghanistanIraqCyprusBalkansGermanyGibraltar OPERATIONALAfghanistan: 9,000Balkans: 200Iraq: 500Qatar: 250Kuwait: 1,500Bahrain: 150Oman: 150 NON-OPERATIONALGermany: 21,500Cyprus: 3,100Falkland Islands: 1,500Gibraltar: 500Other including UN: 300OmanBahrainQatarKuwaitDarfurSudanDemocratic Republic CongoFalkland IslandsAscension IslandOtherDiego GarciaAfghanistanIraqCyprusBalkansGermanyGibraltar OPERATIONALAfghanistan: 9,000Balkans: 200Iraq: 500Qatar: 250Kuwait: 1,500Bahrain: 150Oman: 150 NON-OPERATIONALGermany: 21,500Cyprus: 3,100Falkland Islands: 1,500Gibraltar: 500Other including UN: 300