With the 70th Anniversary of D-Day having been honoured this year, Armed Forces Day is especially poignant. Many people assume that Armed Forces Day is aimed only at current troops serving our country, but this couldn't be further from the truth. Veterans charities including The Royal British Legion and The Chelsea Pensioner's all benefit from funds raised at events across the nation.
The National event will be held in Stirling this year, but events are held all over the country in support of Armed Forces Day. Get involved and meet the members of any of the services; Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. It is a great opportunity to ask questions and especially if you have a child, sibling or family member who is interested in joining a service.
Her Majesty's Armed Forces are the armed forces of the UK. The Commander-In-Chief of Her Majesty's Armed Forces is the British Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, to whom members of the forces swear allegiance. Under British Constitutional Law, the armed forces are subordinate to the Crown.
Under the 1689 Bill of Rights, no Standing Army may be maintained during time of peace without the consent of Parliament; Parliament gives this consent every five years by passing an Armed Forces Act. The armed forces are managed by theDefence Council of the Ministry of Defence, headed by the Secretary of State for Defence.
The British Armed Forces are charged with protecting the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and Crown Dependancies, as well as promoting Britain's wider security interests, and supporting international peacekeeping efforts. They are active and regular participants in NATO and other coalition operations.
If you are holding an event or attending one we would love to hear from you, e-mail us at: barnstaple@thebestof.co.uk. All monies raised go to great causes and charities, without which our troops and their families would be lost.
Thebestof Barnstaple wishes everybody (especially our service personnel, past and present) a Happy Armed Forces Day!
