Westmorland and Furness Council is flying the flags to support Armed Forces Day 2023.
This week is Armed Forces Week and flag-raising ceremonies were held in Barrow, Kendal and Penrith on Monday to say thank you to the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, from currently serving troops to service families, veterans, war widows, reservists and cadets.
This is Armed Forces Week 2023 and the flags will remain above Barrow, Kendal and Penrith town halls until after Armed Forces Day on Saturday, 24 June.
In Barrow, Westmorland and Furness Council Chairman, Cllr Matt Severn was joined by Barrow Mayor Cllr Chris Altree and representatives from the Royal British Legion, the Duke of Lancaster's King’s Own Royal Border Regimental Association, The Submariners Association, the Royal Air Force Association and others; Armed Forces Champion for Barrow, Cllr Bill McEwan; and Deputy Lieutenant Rob Cairns.
In Kendal, Deputy Chairman, Cllr Ali Jama was joined by representatives from the Royal British Legion; Armed Forces Champion for South Lakeland, Cllr Vicky Hughes; and Linda Jones, Chief Legal and Monitoring Officer.
In Penrith, Council Chairman Cllr Matt Severn, was joined by Chief Executive, Sam Plum; Leader, Cllr Jonathan Brook; Deputy Leader, Cllr Patricia Bell; and Armed Forces Champion for Eden, Cllr Mike Eyles. Also in attendance were several local dignitaries, former members of the armed forces and current Westmorland and Furness councillors.
Councillor Brook said: "Last week we signed, as a council, the Armed Forces Covenant, and it is great to be able to raise the flags today for Armed Forces Day.
"This underlines our commitment to support the Armed Forces in our area, and veterans and their families, and we very much look forward to working with them and supporting them over the coming months and years."
This year is the 15th Armed Forces Day and celebrations will be taking place across the country. Click here to find out more about Armed Forces Day.
Last week at a meeting of Full Council in Kendal, the council also made a significant commitment to the Armed Forces by signing the national Armed Forces Covenant.
This means the council recognises the value of serving personnel, veterans, Reserve Forces and military families, and promises to ensure those that serve or have served, and their families, will be treated fairly and will not be disadvantaged by their military life.
Councillor Brook, together with Major Jennifer Henry of the Army HQ Northwest, signed the covenant following a unanimous vote by members to support it.