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Two
special events to celebrate Veterans Day and Armed Forces
Day - by Julieanne King
The
very first annual Armed Forces Day, finally sanctioned by
the Government as a day to celebrate our Armed Forces will
be celebrated on 27th June 2009. Most people would agree
that, whatever we might think about the conflicts they are
sent into, the men and women of our Armed Forces do an incredible
job and we should be rightly proud of them. This first Armed
Forces Day coincides with Veterans' Day, which has long
been marked on 27th June. This is particularly apt, as it
means that on 27th June we can celebrate our armed Forces
both past and present.
There
are a number of events being planned to mark this special
day, not least of which is the National Celebration in Chatham.
The Ross Branch of the Royal British Legion is planning
two events to mark this very special day here in Ross-on-Wye.
The first is a Celebration Concert to be held on 26th June
at the Larruperz Centre and starting at 19.30. This Concert
is a 'not to be missed' occasion; our Master of Ceremonies
for the evening will be Ben Abbott from John Kyrle High
School and there will be performances from the Ross-on-Wye
Town Band, The Voice Squad, the Forest of Dean Male Voice
Choir, 'Chasing Charlie' the Ledbury Community Choir and
readings from Scouts, Guides and Cadets.
The
evening will start with a Parade of Standards which will
be received by the Mayor of Ross, Councillor John Edwards.
After the Kohima Exhortation and Silence, the music and
singing will start in earnest, building up to a Proms-style
finale with audience participation and flag-waving being
compulsory!! During the interval there will be a raffle
and fund-raising items on sale in aid of the Ross Branch
of the Legion and also Help for Heroes. All of the performers
taking part are doing so free of charge in support of the
two charities and Armed Forces Day. Information about the
concert can be found on the official Armed Forces Day website,
the British Legion website, Help for Heroes website, Wyenot
News and the What's On Guide, on Wyvern FM, BBC Hereford
& Worcester and in the Ross Gazette and Hereford Times.
The event has certainly put Ross-on-Wye on the map! Tickets
are on sale at £5 from the Box Office or by telephoning
01989 568941 or 564277. This will be an evening of wonderful
performances, celebration and unashamed Britishness!! Don't
miss it.
The
following day on 27th June, the Ross Branch of the Legion
will be raising the Union Jack in the Market Square in honour
of Armed Forces Day and will be manning an information stand
and display about the Legion and its work. Anyone who is
interested in the Legion, whether they have been a member
of the armed forces or not, is very welcome to come along,
see the display and chat to Legion members. The Legion carries
out its work in a wide range of welfare areas including
war pensions, financial assistance and holidays. We are
also able to advise on tracing medals from old conflicts,
replacing lost medals and having medal ribbons replaced
for wearing. To many people the Royal British Legion is
for those who fought in the two World Wars, linked as it
is to the poppies of Flanders Field. The Legion actively
welcomes and supports any member of the armed forces both
from the World Wars and from the numerous wars and conflicts
since 1945.
The
Branch in Ross is open to anyone who has served or those
who have an interest in supporting our armed forces and
is especially keen to recruit members from later conflicts
such as Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and
Falklands. For information on the Legion in Ross please
contact our Branch Chairman Fred Jones on 01989 564277.
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