Flag raised to mark Armed Forces Week

A special flag raising ceremony was held today at County Hall in Morpeth  to mark national Armed Forces Week.
 
The ceremony was part of a countrywide programme of events to celebrate and recognise HM Armed Forces - past, present and future.
 
Servicemen and women and war veterans  were joined by civic leaders and members of Northumberland County Council staff and the  public to pay tribute to all those service personnel  who put their lives on the line in war zones across the world.
 
The Armed Forces Flag was raised on the flagpole outside County Hall  and will fly all week ahead of Armed Forces Day, which falls on Saturday 24 June  this year.
 
Civic Head of  Northumberland County Council, Councillor Anthony Murray said:
 
“  Behind the flags, parades, and other events up and down the country to mark Armed Forces Day, we should remember that, as we speak, in this country and overseas, these brave people are putting their lives on the line - on the ground, in the air, and on the oceans - to keep us safe and to build a better world for our children.
 
“ We must also remember that each one of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and reservists is also a wife or a husband; a father; a mother; a son or a daughter and recognise that the pressure on their families is considerable. I want to thank all those who support their loved ones in our Forces.

“ Nor should we forget the commitment of our Cadets, or the adult volunteers . Of course, those serving in our Armed Forces will one day move into the larger family of veterans and Armed Forces Day is a celebration of our veterans’ community too, whatever their age.

This is a day when we can show our patriotic support for all of these heroes, and their outstanding contribution to this country. They are a constant reminder to younger generations that preserving our way of life and the things we hold most dear is sometimes hard won, and never guaranteed. ”