Scotland's cities celebrate Armed Forces Day

Published on Friday 26 June 2009 23:11

PARADES, flypasts and church services will be held across Scotland today to mark the first Armed Forces Day.

In Edinburgh, veterans will gather at the Castle Esplanade for a parade to The Mound at 3pm.

This will be followed by performances in Princes Street Gardens from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards band and the Parachute Regimental Band.

Veterans will take tea with spectators in a marquee in the gardens, and there will be an inflatable assault course and climbing tower for families, along with an RAF flypast.

A parade in George Square in Glasgow from 11:30am will involve veterans and service personnel, accompanied by the Lowland Band and the Combined Pipes and Drums.

At noon, Lord Provost Bob Winter will take the salute as the march passes the City Chambers. There will then be a short service with a prayer by Rev Dr Whitley. A bugler will then play the last post and a piper will follow with Flowers of the Forest.There will then be a two-minute silence followed by a flypast by 42 Squadron RAF in Nimrod Mk2 aircraft at 12:15pm.

High teas and 1940s-style entertainment will follow, along with gun displays and military exhibits in George Square. Scottish Conservatives leader Annabel Goldie will attend an armed forces dedication service at Paisley Abbey at 9:45am.

She said: "We owe it to our armed forces and their families to show how much we appreciate them.

"It is but one day we take out to mark their contribution, whilst they serve for 365 days a year. It is only right that we recognise their courage and show them the respect they deserve."

Other events include parades in Aberdeen, Dingwall and Dumfries at 11am, and a parade and drum head service in Dundee from 1pm.