This year Weston-super-Mare will be marking Armed Forces Day two weeks earlier than the national Armed Forces Day event, with 40 Commando Royal Marines marching along the historic Royal Prominade.
The Band of HM Royal Marines Plymouth will lead the procession with members of 40 Commando RM, veterans and cadets following on behind. The parade will step off from the Royal Hotel at 10.30am, heading north along the Royal Parade, towards Knightstone Causeway. From there, the procession will march south, returning to the Winter Gardens where the Lord Lieutenant will take the salute at approximately 10.45am.
Attention will then shift to the Armed Forces Village, located in The Italian Gardens, which will play host to the Armed Forces Day celebrations. The event kicks off with the Opening Ceremony at 12.00pm and will follow on with a day of demonstrations, displays, music from The Band of HM Royal Marines Plymouth and activities to celebrate the entire Armed Forced Community.
The Mayor said: “Nine years ago Weston-super-Mare granted 40 commando, Royal marines the freedom of the Town and I am delighted that they’ll be exercising that freedom this weekend, on Armed Forces Day.
This is going to be a historic day for our beautiful town and moment of pride for Weston-super-Mare, we look forward to see many people turn out to witness it”.
40 Commando Royal Marines, based near Taunton, are a high readiness Unit that is currently preparing for deployments later on in the year. The Commando Unit has been affiliated to Weston-super-Mare for over 14 years and were subsequently awarded the Freedom of the Town back in June 2014. Armed Forces Day provides a fantastic opportunity for the local communities to come together and celebrate.