REDDITCH paid tribute to the Armed Forces with a special flag-raising ceremony at the town hall on Monday.
Dignitaries from Redditch Borough Council were joined by members of the 37 Signal Regiment and representatives of the town’s Royal British Legion branch for the poignant service.
The flag was raised in the run-up to and in honour of Armed Forces Day which takes place today (Saturday, June 24.)
The flag will fly outside the town hall all week to raise awareness of the role of the Armed Forces and celebrate past, present and future generations of servicemen and women.
Redditch Mayor Coun Salman Akbar read a short speech at the ceremony before raising the flag.
He said: “I am really honoured to have represented Redditch at this service and we should all be proud of the sacrifices made by our armed forces.
“They put themselves in the way of harm to protect our way of life, liberties and freedoms and so we should always remember them.
“Days like this hold a lot of value and raise the profile of the servicemen and women who give their lives for us.”
Former British military member Coun Sid Khan also spoke at the ceremony.
He added: “I have seen first-hand the selfless service, bravery and sacrifice our servicemen and women make every day to protect and uphold our values.
“Armed Forces Week serves as a powerful reminder of the appreciation we owe to those who serve our nation including our veterans and their families.
“The armed forces live by certain morals, values and standards, including selfless commitment, integrity, discipline and courage.
“These values are not just words but essential guiding principles that shape their entire lives, something I believe we could all learn from.”
People, businesses and organisations can use the #SaluteOurForces hashtag on social media to salute those serving.
