HAMPSHIRE County Council and East Hampshire District Council have raised the Armed Forces Day Flag to celebrate Hampshire’s Armed Forces community.
Hampshire County Council’s Armed Forces Champion, councillor Andrew Joy, said: “We are committed to supporting our Armed Forces community, including regulars, reservists, veterans and their families.
“Hampshire is home to over 20,000 serving members, as well as the largest concentration of veterans anywhere in the UK.
“Hampshire County Council was one of the first in the UK to sign the Armed Forces Covenant.
“Service personnel, their families, veterans and the wider community in Hampshire are benefiting from many successful projects funded by the Ministry of Defence Covenant Fund.
“The fund focuses on creating strong local links between the Armed Forces community and civilian communities, as well as the delivery of valuable local services to the Armed Forces community.”
Meanwhile, East Hampshire District Council chairman, councillor Lynn Evans, said: “I am proud to raise this flag on behalf of all those in East Hampshire who value the fantastic job the men and women of the Armed Forces do.
“They put themselves in harm’s way to protect our way of life and we want them to know how much we appreciate the risks they take and the sacrifices they make.
“Armed Forces Day is the perfect way to do this and I am happy to see the flag flying proudly over Penns Place this week.”