Southend Salutes - Armed Forces weekend 2015

June 15, 2015 by Southend Borough Council

Southend Salutes - Armed Forces weekend 2015

Tuesday 16th June 2015

Stand by to honour past, present and future members of the Armed Forces in Southend on Saturday and Sunday 27th and 28th June.

This annual celebration features a military parade and open air service, as well as the chance to support military organisations at stalls in the Victoria Shopping Centre

To introduce this special event, the Worshipful the Mayor of Southend, Councillor Andrew Moring will raise the Armed Forces Flag at 10am at Southend Civic Centre on Monday 22nd June.

Armed Forces Veterans will join him at this ceremony where the Royal Artillery gun will also be in evidence.

This will play an additional role during the open air service on Saturday 27th June when it will be fired at 11am and 11:02am to mark the beginning and end of the two minutes silence being observed to remember those lost in armed conflicts.

The open air service will follow a military parade which starts at 10:30am near the railway bridge across Southend High Street, and will march towards Victoria Circus.

Among those in the parade will be Armed Forces Veterans and members of Southend Sea Cadet Unit.

At 10:45am, the parade will arrive at Victoria Circus to be welcomed by the Worshipful the Mayor of Southend, Councillor Andrew Moring.

The service which follows will be led by the Rev Frank Smith, Chaplain to the Royal Artillery Association and the British Korean Veterans Association, and will include traditional hymns, the two minutes silence at 11am, the playing of the Last Post and Reveille.

It will be accompanied by Southend Boys and Girls Choirs, along with local singers and also Southend Band who will give a 40 minute performance when the service ends at 11:30am.

Executive Councillor for Enterprise, Tourism and Economic Development, Councillor Graham Longley said: “This Armed Forces weekend offers everyone a special opportunity to celebrate members of the Armed Forces past, present and future, and to say thank you to them.

“We hope as many people as possible will come along to take part in the events, by watching the parade, taking part in the service, visiting the military organisation stalls in the Victoria Shopping Centre, or taking a look at the military vehicle display between 9am and 6pm on City Beach Southend Seafront on Sunday 28th June.

“These activities enable residents and visitors to meet members of the Armed Forces face to face, to show their gratitude and find out more about the service they have given.”