The Armed Forces Day flag relay will start in Bodmin next week when Councillor Phil Cooper, Bodmin’s Town Mayor, transports the flag through the town’s streets ahead of Armed Forces Day taking place in Cornwall in June 2023.
The flag will be delivered to Bodmin Keep Cornwall’s Army Museum where staff, volunteers, veterans and community groups with links to Bodmin Keep will assemble for the flag relay ceremony at 2pm on Tuesday, 25 April.
Bodmin is one of 10 community events across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to host an official flag relay ceremony ahead of the national event being held in Falmouth in June.
The flag symbolises public support for the Armed Forces men and women, past and present and the very difficult job that they do.
Regional Air Officer for the South-West of England, Air Commodore, Polly Perkins, CBE, says; "Events like these help the Armed Forces to thrive knowing that we have the support of the very community that we serve. The fact communities across Cornwall are involved in the relay and intend to fly the flag is a real demonstration that they take pride in the Armed Forces and feel confident in our ability to turn our hand to almost any situation," she said.
Cornwall’s Lord Lieutenant, Colonel Edward Bolitho OBE, veterans, cadets, serving military personnel and school children from St Petrocs Primary School will attend the ‘handing over’ ceremony.
Bodmin Town Mayor Phil Cooper says; “It is a huge honour to be presented with this special flag and be part of this national event. It is a real privilege for the town which is steeped in military history. Bodmin Keep which until 2012 was a recruiting base for the army and is still home to The Light Infantry Association is the perfect location to begin the tour.”
The Armed Forces Day flag relay will continue over the next 2 months before the official flag raising in Falmouth.