Staff and elected members at the region’s largest local authority will celebrate civilian and
uniformed personnel on a national day to honour the armed forces community.
Durham County Council will mark Armed Forces Day 2021 by raising the official armed
forces flag at its County Hall Headquarters in Durham.
Armed Forces Day, marked this year on Saturday 26 June, is an annual opportunity for the
UK to celebrate the work of its Armed Forces and the Armed Forces community from
currently serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets.
For the second year running, the annual Armed Forces Day will be celebrated mainly with
virtual events due to the Covid pandemic, and a national campaign is encouraging people
to post photos of themselves giving a salute to the armed forces on social media, using the
hashtag #SaluteOur Forces.
In 2018, the council received a Gold Award through the Ministry of Defence’s Employer
Recognition Scheme, which recognises employers who demonstrate positive attitudes and
policies towards serving and ex-members of the Armed Forces.
During recent years, the authority has introduced a number of policies aimed at creating
fair and equal opportunities for those who serve, including up to 10 days paid leave for
reservists and Uniformed Cadet Force Adult Volunteers to attend training.
A guaranteed interview scheme is in place for veterans, and The Armed Forces Outreach
Service is available to support and help serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their
families.
Durham County Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Paul Sexton, said “Durham
County Council is always proud to support forces personnel and their families, but this
year it seems particularly important to recognise the invaluable contribution the forces
have made to the nation’s efforts to tackle the Covid pandemic, particularly their hard work
in helping to deliver the successful vaccination programme.
“It is disappointing not to be able to celebrate Armed Forces Day with the usual larger
events this year, but our council will continue to demonstrate its commitment to our armed
services in any way we can.”
The council’s Chairman Cllr Watts Stelling and Durham’s Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Sue
Snowdon recorded special messages of support for the armed forces which are available
on Durham County Council’s You Tube Channel.