This Sunday, the city centre will be awash in red, white, and blue as Leeds honors service men and women past, present, and future.
Hosted by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, Leeds Armed Forces Day is an occasion to honor the courage, dedication, and commitment of active service members, veterans, cadets, and their families with a full day of ceremonial and family-friendly activities.
This no-cost event is set for Sunday, June 30, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will take over Briggate with a variety of stalls, exhibitions, and activities, including a climbing wall, den-building, and numerous street performers. In a departure from tradition, the flag-raising ceremony, which typically occurs the Saturday before Armed Forces Day, will now be held on the day itself, enhancing the celebratory atmosphere.
The national anthem will ring out in Victoria Gardens at 10:45 a.m. as the flags are raised, marking the beginning of a grand parade. Led by the West Yorkshire Police Band, the procession will include serving armed forces personnel, veterans, and cadets. The parade will commence at 11 a.m., traveling up to the Headrow and culminating on Briggate with speeches. The day’s festivities will also feature live musical performances by the City of Leeds Pipe Band, the 1940s-themed Daisy Belles, and the rock covers band Rocky Road.
In support of the celebrations, Leeds bus company First Bus will offer free travel to cadets, veterans, and serving personnel throughout the weekend of June 29-30. To avail of this benefit, individuals must be in uniform, present an ID card, or be wearing medals. This year’s celebration marks the finale of a month-long Armed Forces Day Festival, which included a series of talks, exhibitions, and special events commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung said:
“Armed Forces Day is a great opportunity for Leeds residents and families to come together and show their support and gratitude to our armed forces community. With this year also being the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a pivotal moment in the history of our country and the world, it feels particularly poignant that we show our appreciation and pay tribute to the heroism of our troops. We will forever remember them.
“The exciting events on the day will offer something for everyone and I hope to see as many people as possible enjoying what promises to be a very special day out.”
Armed Forces Day in the United Kingdom features numerous events nationwide that honor the bravery and service of the British Armed Forces community, including veterans, active troops, reserves, cadets, and their families. Leeds City Council extends its gratitude to the Ministry of Defence for their financial support of this event.
For more information about Leeds Armed Forces Day 2024, please visit www.leedsafd.co.uk
