Armed Forces Week

The first event of Armed Forces Week was the raising of the flag today on Stockton Town Hall and Municipal Buildings. The Chairman of Regeneration & Transport committee adjourned the meeting for 20 minutes so that we could attend the ceremony. We joined veterans, senior council officers and councillors and a number of residents for a brief but moving ceremony. Lt Col Heron reminded us of the link across 70 years between the rescue from Dunkirk and the service personnel returning from Afghanistan, Iraq etc now. The Royal British Legion standards were lowered, the bugle sounded across the High St and the Armed Forces flag was raised. It will fly all week as a reminder to all who pass by.
Walking into the Shambles there's the opportunity to spend a little time reading about and reflecting on the role of the armed forces and particularly the 225th Co of the Royal Engineers, formed in Stockton during the first world war. Do go and see if you are in Stockton.
And do go to Stockton Town Centre on Thursday at 2pm if you possibly can to witness the Freedom parade of the Yorkshire Regiment - it'll be a sight worth seeing.