22nd June 2009
Royal Star & Garter Holds Flag Raising Ceremony For Armed Forces Day
Today The Royal Star & Garter Homes held a ceremony to raise the special Armed Forces Day flag at its home at the top of Richmond Hill, Surrey. The ceremony took place at 10.30 am to coincide with simultaneous Flag Raisings in hundreds of towns and cities across the UK. The flag will be flown until Sunday 28th June, the day after Armed Forces Day, to show support for our Armed Forces community, from currently Serving troops to Service families, and from veterans to recruits, during a week of events and celebrations.
Cllr Celia Hodges, Mayor of Richmond, and Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, were welcomed to the home by Vice Admiral Sir John Dunt, Chairman of the Royal Star & Garter's Board of Governors, along with Falklands veteran Simon Weston, a Vice President of the Charity, and its Chief Executive Air Commodore Mike Barter.
Speaking in front of a large group of residents, volunteers and staff Sir John said: "I was delighted when it was decided in 2006 to hold an annual Veterans Day, and I am very pleased to see that currently Serving military personnel are now included in the commemoration which has been renamed Armed Forces Day. This is an opportunity for us all to show our admiration and respect for the veterans of all conflicts, and particularly those whom we at The Royal Star & Garter Homes are very proud to care for".
In recognition of this year's 65th anniversary of D-Day, 83-year-old resident Louis Pengelly-Phillips who was one of the first to land on Juno beach with 48 Royal Marine Commando pulled the rope to unfurl the flag accompanied by Musn Stephanie Barratt, a bugler from the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall. The guests then had the opportunity to meet and talk with the home's residents.
The Royal Star & Garter Charity's new home at Solihull, West Midlands, also raised the Armed Forces Day flag. Both homes will celebrate the day itself on Saturday 27th June with a special concert and tea followed by a commemorative balloon launch.
Photo Caption: Falklands veteran Simon Weston, Cllr Celia Hodges, Mayor of Richmond, the Charity’s Chairman Vice Admiral Sir John Dunt, Chief Executive Mike Barter, and Susan Kramer MP with D-Day veteran Louis Pengelly-Phillips outside The Royal Star & Garter Home.