Rotherham Raises Armed Forces Flag

The contribution made by Rotherham's military personnel - both serving or retired - will be celebrated next week when the Armed Forces Day flag is raised over Rotherham Town Hall.

At 10.15 am on Monday, June 20, Rotherham will once again join the national celebrations by holdings its own public flag-raising ceremony to celebrate Armed Forces Day.

The event, to which the public are invited, will mark the start of Armed Forces Day celebrations around the country, when last year over 4,000 flags were flown in support of the military community, both serving and retired, at home and abroad.

The Mayor of Rotherham, Coun. Shaun Wright, will attend the event, which is being organised by Rotherham Borough Council, together with Council Leader, Coun. Roger Stone; Coun. Mahroof Hussain, Cabinet Member for Community Development and Young People; and council members.

Representatives of key agencies in the borough and the local faith communities will also be represented as will service associations from around the Borough. The Territorial Army, the Royal British Legion, the Parachute Regiment, the Air Training Corps, the Royal Navy and SSAFA - the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association - will all be attending.

Flags will be raised simultaneously around the country on Monday June 20 to kick off a week of celebratory activity to mark the official Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 25. 

Coun. Hussain said the Armed Forces Day celebration is a public acknowledgement of the major role that the men and women of the armed forces play.

He said: "This event is Rotherham's opportunity to recognise what people across Rotherham have done and continue to do through their service. Our Armed Forces

Coun. Hussain said the Armed Forces Day celebration is a public acknowledgement of the major role that the men and women of the armed forces play.

He said: "This event is Rotherham's opportunity to recognise what people across Rotherham have done and continue to do through their service. Our Armed Forces have a proud tradition of attracting people of all colours, faiths and backgrounds, united together in serving their country, and so this is very much part of the One Town, One Community vision for Rotherham, which promotes the values of inclusion, respect for diversity and the need to challenge intolerance, extremism and injustice."