A flag raising ceremony has taken place and a host of activities are planned as Sunderland celebrates Armed Forces Day.
Tributes will be paid to veterans and those currently serving in the military this weekend to mark the day, which will take place on Saturday. The Armed Forces Day flag was raised at the City Hall on Friday where it will fly for the weekend, and a programme of family fun and activities will be taking place at Seaburn Recreational Ground.
Armed Forces Day takes place on the last Saturday in June every year to acknowledge the contribution made by military personnel and their families to their country and communities.
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The Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Dorothy Trueman, hosted a flag-raising ceremony and welcomed guests including armed forces veterans and standard bearers. She said: "Armed Forces Day provides us with the opportunity to think about and pay tribute to all those within the Armed Forces, including their families and support organisations, and acknowledge their contribution to society.
"Sunderland as a city has strong affiliations with the Armed Forces and I would like to take this opportunity to thank and pay tribute to them. I am honoured to represent the people of our city here today, as we join our colleagues across the country in flying the Armed Forces Day flag.”
Across Saturday and Sunday, the free Sunderland Armed Forces Weekend at Seaburn Recreational Ground will include musical performances, children’s entertainment, market stalls, street food, a fun fair and even a hurricane flypast from the RAF Air Events Team.
The weekend will also see military vehicle enthusiasts, a visit from Darth Vader and his storm troopers, displays from Arcadia Wrestling and a Sunday morning dog show.
