British Armed Forces Day: 27 June

I was delighted that the government last week announced the first-ever British Armed Forces Day, which will take place on Saturday 27 June 2009.

This will be an opportunity for the entire nation to celebrate the vital contribution our servicemen and women make to our country; to say thank you, and to reflect on their sacrifices for our country over the years.

For the past three years 27 June has marked Veteran's Day, but the government felt that serving, as well as retired servicemen and women should be celebrated.

The historic Royal Naval Dockyard at Chatham in Kent has been chosen to host the main Armed Forces Day celebrations, but there will be other events up and down the land - including, hopefully, at the Territorial Army base in Merton Road and the Royal British Legion in Upper Richmond Road.

I would like the government to go further and make Armed Forces Day a Bank Holiday - something I will work hard for as Putney's MP and which I first wrote about last June.

You can find out more about Armed Forces Day at http://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/