How you can show your support for Armed Forces Week 2021

Our plans for Armed Forces Week 2021 will largely take place online due to the current COVID-19 restrictions preventing large-scale gatherings.

But there's still plenty for you, your family and friends to take part in!

Flag raising

The Armed Forces flag is being flown on Stockton Town Hall for the week from Monday 21 June, as we do every year. Visitors to the town will see the flag flying proudly from the centre of the high street.

Video messages

You'll be able to watch short speeches to mark the week from:

• Sue Snowdon, Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Durham
• Jo Ropner, Hery Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire
• Councillor Kevin Faulks, Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees
• Bill Braviner, Mayor's Chaplain

Wartime music

We're hosting a web page with videos of a medley of wartime tunes and local vocalist Katie Levin performing songs that are synonymous with those eras that you can enjoy and singalong to at home.

Activity sheet

Our web page features a brilliant activity sheet that can be downloaded and printed off to enjoy at home including word searches, mazes and interesting armed forces facts.

Activity packs for schools and care homes

A number of the Borough's schools and care homes have received special activity packs containing materials to make their own red, white and blue door garland to display.

Oral histories

Dr Tosh Warwick from Heritage Unlocked has worked with the Stockton and Yarm branch of the Royal British Legion to record the experiences of three veterans.

Representing the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, you can listen to these gripping and personal histories that document a life lived in military service.

Feature lighting

Our feature lighting at Stockton Town Hall, the Riverside area and Newport Bridge will be proudly displaying red, white and blue colours on Armed Forces Day (Saturday 26 June).

Information hub

There'll be a wealth of information on the Borough's Freedom Regiments and other organisations that exist to serve the armed forces community.

A message from the Borough's Armed Forces Champion

Councillor Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council said: "As the Armed Forces Champion for the Borough, I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks for the service of all our armed forces personnel whether actively serving or retired.

"It is their selfless commitment, endeavour and sacrifice that helps to keep us all safe at home and abroad, we should never forget that.

"While we have to stick with marking Armed Forces Week under the current restrictions, there's still so much that you and your family and friends can do to show your appreciation for our forces.

"We have a very proud and longstanding association with our armed forces here in Stockton-on-Tees and I'd encourage everyone to visit our website to see how they can get involved this year."