Armed Forces Day.

[Asterix]

Today, so Wiki has told me - what's going on round your neck of the woods to celebrate this?

[Shaw Tarse]

Dudley http://www.dudley.gov.uk/welcome/news-in-dudley/ju...

[RemainAllHoof]

I only found out today that it was today. Absolutely no idea what is happening around Epsom/Kingston. Any hub for relevant info?

Edit: ah ha! http://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/National.aspx

Edited by RemainAllHoof on Saturday 25th June 09:55

[Pistom]

Am I the only one who thinks that this is a piss poor show of the UKs armed forces?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the guys and girls who do amazingingly brave things for what is nowadays little more than massaging the politicians but the show I've seen so far is not that impressive.

[Asterix]

Funnily enough - parading around is a ballache for them. Best thing for an Armed Forces day would be to give them all the day off and make the NAAFI bars free for the day

[Russ35]

Been a few things in Blackpool for them.

Concerts at the Opera House
Afternoon Tea Dances at the Tower Ballroom
Big Band Dance
Sunday service and parade
+ other stuff

and my favourite the Cenotaph Illuminated Tribute where they use the Cenotaph as a projector screen and project news reel film and still images of fallen service personnel. Video

[Barletta]

Avro Lancaster bomber was doing a fly pass but it is two hours late

[speedchick]

Son is currently polishing his shoes as he is going with his ATC Sqn to Blackpool tomorrow to take part in the march

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

Pistom said:

Am I the only one who thinks that this is a piss poor show of the UK's armed forces?

Armed Forces Day was a cynical invention by the last Government to deflect the fact that they had destroyed the Military Covenant. It's supposed to be a day for the Armed Forces, not for the Public delectation of seeing them march up and down the square!

Sadly, the latter is exactly what it has become and what was foretold prior to B. Liar steam-rollering it through.

At a time of overstretch, cuts in equipment, cuts in manning, pay freezes, reductions in allowances (even though the Forces are still expected to give 100% all of the time and still expected to cope with an ever increasing tasking), the last thing the average grunt, SNCO, or even Junior officer needs is the extra BS and Buggeration of this extra duty.

Pistom said:

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the guys and girls who do amazingly brave things

That's exactly what you have just done!

[Turbo5]

I went to the Preston Military show last Saturday where all the Mayor's etc collected their flags that should be flying over town halls. The Hurricane fly past was good.

[RemainAllHoof]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

It's supposed to be a day for the Armed Forces, not for the Public delectation of seeing them march up and down the square!

Sadly, the latter is exactly what it has become and what was foretold prior to B. Liar steam-rollering it through.

Tis a shame - I was hoping to find a local event to cheer for them and show them my support.

[Pistom]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

Pistom said:

Am I the only one who thinks that this is a piss poor show of the UK's armed forces?

Pistom said:

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the guys and girls who do amazingly brave things

That's exactly what you have just done!

No it's not. I'm not saying that the square bashers are presenting badly - it's just the implementation of armed forces day which is poor.

As for some of the crazy tasks these people are sent on in the name of "Queen and Country" at one time it was a reason to be proud but now it is often shameful.

[AshVX220]

Pistom said:

As for some of the crazy tasks these people are sent on in the name of "Queen and Country" at one time it was a reason to be proud but now it is often shameful.

It hasn't been for Queen and Country since Gulf War 1 though has it? It's been for our politicians posturing and puffing their chests out.

I wear my Veterans badge with pride and have massive respect for anyone in the armed forces, such a shame our politicians have no respect for them.

As has been said, Armed Forces day should be for the troops, not the publics benefit.