VIDEO: Flag hoisted in town centre to mark Armed Forces Day

The chairman of Horsham District Council Philip Circus (Con, Chanctonbury) gave a short speech and called for a minute’s silence before the flag was hoisted, while other members of the council and military personnel were in attendance.

He said: “It is a day of celebration and remembrance of our armed forces, where we can do this in concert with people who are honouring the armed forces right across the country.

“I am very honoured to be able to be part of this recognition of the armed forces.”

Further festivities will follow in the Carfax on Saturday June 29, where there will be a small display of Armed Forces vehicles and the Royal British Legion band will be playing from 12-2pm.

Among the representatives of the Royal British Legion was Dianne Loates, the secretary of the Horsham branch of the RBL and poppy appeal organiser.

She said: “These flags are raised all over the country and are given by the government to the councils.

“The importance of Armed Forces Day is recognising all of our servicemen, past and present - it is a day separate from Remembrance when we are recognising just the fallen.”

Horsham district councillor Roy Cornell (Con, Roffey South) served in the Royal Air Force in the 1960s.

He added: “As an ex-serviceman I feel it is very important that we remember the British servicemen serving now, and those that gave their lives in the First and the Second World War.

“These men and women have made a great sacrifice to gain freedom and democracy in this day - and British servicemen are still making the sacrifice today to protect us here.”