Legion participates in Armed Forces Day
28 June 2011
Hundreds of thousands of people all over the country showed their appreciation for the Armed Forces over the weekend for Armed Forces Day (AFD) on Saturday 25 June.
The news round up on the AFD website says that Prince William expressed his "pride and humility" talking about the achievements of our Armed Forces, and a total of over 200 themed Armed Forces Day events around the country showed that the British public feels exactly the same way.
A spectacular weekend of events kicked off on Friday with tours for the public of Type 23 frigate HMS Portland in Leith, and a 30-minute air display by the world famous Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team - the Red Arrows - over the Firth of Forth. It was their first full display in Edinburgh for 23 years.
On Saturday, around 100,000 people turned out in Edinburgh, this year's host city, to watch a parade of over 2,000 military personnel, past and present, march down the Royal Mile led by 90 members of the Legion's Riders Branch. The salute was taken by HRH Prince Charles and the spectacle rounded off by a Red Arrows flypast.
On Sunday, a massed Pipes and Drums parade marched from the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade to Holyrood Park. It was attended by The Duchess of Cornwall, who is known as the Duchess of Rothesay when she visits Scotland.
The Legion's National President Lt General Sir John Kiszely, National Chairman John Farmer, and our Director of National Events and Fundraising Russell Thompson, attended a VIP Reception on board HMS Portland, where they met other organisations and companies taking part or sponsoring Armed Forces Day 2011 in Edinburgh.
Big celebrations were also held in cities all across the UK including at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire where the Standard of the newly formed Royal British Legion branch was dedicated.
In Plymouth, the crowd celebrating Armed Forces Day cheered as the announcement was made that the city would host the flagship national event in 2012.
View some highlights from the Edinburgh event in the video below or on our YouTube channel.
