Armed Forces Day events unveiled
A programme of spectacular events for this year's Armed Forces Day in the historic city of Stirling has been revealed.
![Service personnel launching Armed Forces Day 2014 at Stirling Castle [Picture: Mark Owens, Crown copyright]](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a6199f1e5274a0a1b10ea16/s300_HQscot-2014-026-3002.jpg)
Service personnel launching Armed Forces Day 2014 at Stirling Castle
This year’s Armed Forces Day national event, on 28 June, will see Stirling leading the UK’s celebrations in honour of our servicemen and women past and present.
Kicking off festivities will be an impressive parade of tri-service personnel, supported by bands, marching from ancient Stirling Castle, making its way through the streets of the city down to the events field below the castle.
Joining the colourful parade will be veterans of all ages, association standards, and members of cadet forces from across the United Kingdom. A drumhead service will follow in the events field, concluded by a gun salute from 105 Regiment Royal Artillery.
Throughout the afternoon exciting military demonstrations will feature daring fast-roping by elite Royal Marines from Sea King helicopters, with close air support from the RAF and an army Apache helicopter. There will also be a demonstration of a ground assault with casualty evacuations.
Visitors can view the live and static displays, including aircraft on site, military working dogs demonstrations, Royal Navy, British Army and RAF marquees, a veterans village, and a model of supercarrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the brand new Royal Navy ship soon to be official named by Her Majesty The Queen at Rosyth.
Service personnel celebrate the launch of Armed Forces Day 2014 at Stirling Castle [Picture: Mark Owens, Crown copyright]
As well as the ground displays, visitors will be treated to parachute drops from the Red Devils, the Parachute Regiment display team, and the RAF Falcons. Drawing a close to the memorable day will be an impressive flypast of current and historic aircraft in the skies above Stirling.
Stirling city centre will be buzzing with family fun on Saturday 28 June with open air performances from musicians, comedians and entertainers throughout the afternoon and early evening. Music events in the city’s many bars and cafes will round off a jam-packed day. Further details of performers, timings and activities will be released later in April.
Stirling Provost Mike Robbins said:
Stirling has very close historic links with Britain’s armed forces, so we are tremendously proud to be hosting this fabulous event. It will be a truly spectacular day out for families; a real highlight of 2014.
It is a superb chance for all of us to express our thanks to members of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, past and present, for the remarkable work they do for the whole of the United Kingdom.