Volunteers, community organisations, sponsors and organisers who worked together to host the prestigious Armed Forces Day National Event weekend in June, have been thanked at a special reception held at the Houses of Parliament yesterday. (Wednesday 16 September)
The event was organised by local MP Alex Baker to recognise the contribution of the many organisations and individuals who helped bring the annual national celebration to Aldershot and Farnborough this summer.
More than 32k people booked tickets for the national event weekend in June, during which the community celebrated and thanked the Armed Forces, honoured veterans and recognised the contribution of serving personnel, military families and the wider defence community.
Deputy Leader of Rushmoor Borough Council, Councillor Sophie Porter, said:
“Bringing the National Armed Forces Day event to Aldershot was a fantastic opportunity to showcase Aldershot and Farnborough and celebrate our proud military heritage.
“The success of the weekend was down to the commitment of so many partners, volunteers and organisations who gave their time, expertise and support. While we can recognise some of those involved, we know many more people played a vital role, including our incredible community, who proudly supported this prestigious event from the beginning when we won the bid.
“Hosting Armed Forces Day National Event has created a legacy of pride and connection across our communities, and we look forward to building on that. We see Armed Forces Day not as the end of something, but as the beginning.
“We now have an opportunity, through our Growth Partnership, to build on those relationships – bringing together our communities, the Armed Forces, education and business; developing the skills our young people need; and creating the kind of place where our businesses can invest, innovate and grow.
“Aldershot and Farnborough demonstrated the kind of towns we are by welcoming serving personnel, veterans and Armed Forces families from across the country and the world, and we had the opportunity to showcase the very best of Aldershot and Farnborough and our communities.”
Speaking at the reception, Alex Baker MP, who jointly submitted the bid to host the event with Rushmoor Borough Council, thanked everyone involved and highlighted the importance of the event for Aldershot and Farnborough.
She said:
“The National Armed Forces Day celebrations were a very special moment for Aldershot, Farnborough and the wider community. They showed the country the pride, community spirit and dynamism that define our towns.
“This reception was an opportunity to thank some of the hundreds of people and organisations who worked so hard to make the event possible. Every contribution helped make the weekend such a success.
“Armed Forces Day has created a lasting legacy - strengthening our connection with our Armed Forces, renewing pride in our communities and showing the important role Aldershot and Farnborough continue to play in the defence of our country.”
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