Thanking our Armed Forces with a Day of Celebrations in Bedford Town Centre
This Sunday, 28th June, a day of celebration and activities to mark Armed Forces Day is taking place in Bedford town centre, and Mayor Dave Hodgson has encouraged everyone to come along, enjoy the entertainment and thank past and present members of the Armed Forces for their 'extraordinary contribution' to our country.
A parade organised by the Bedford Royal British Legion will set off from De Parys Avenue from 10:30am onwards, arriving in the Town Centre at 11am. Military personnel will stand alongside invited dignitaries at the John Howard statue, Market Square and then continue onwards to Harpur Square.
This year, Bedford will welcome to the town centre the D Day darlings, who will be singing select wartime classics, the Bedford Town Band; face-painters specialising in camouflage and charities who support service personnel along with several sporting groups running taster sessions for members of the public to try for free. Local Historian David Fowler will also be on hand to talk through Bedford's Wartime history.
Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "Occasions such as Armed Forces Day provide an opportunity for us to help raise awareness of the extraordinary contribution to our country past and present members of the Armed Forces have made.
"I hope as in past years Armed Forces Day will be well supported in Bedford, as we show our gratitude to those who have served, and continue to serve, on our behalf."
The day of celebrations is the culmination of a week which has seen the Armed Forces Day flag flying at Borough Hall since a flag-raising ceremony on Monday morning. An album of photos of the flag-raising can be seen on Mayor Dave's facebook page: www.facebook.com/davethemayor