A Celebration Of Our Armed Forces

Residents in the Upper Rhymney Valley will get the chance to show their support for the brave men and women of our Armed Forces at a special event taking place next month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caerphilly County Borough Council and Rhymney Community Council are organising a special Armed Forces Day celebration on Monday 20th June in the centre of Rhymney. Representatives from the Royal British legion will parade along the High Street to the car park next to Rhymney Library where a flag raising ceremony will be held. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Children from schools across the area will be in attendance along with the Mayor, and representatives of all the branches of the armed forces. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Similar events in previous years have been held in Ystrad Mynach and Newbridge town centres attracting hundreds of local people and the council hopes to build on this success in Rhymney this year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The parade will start from the Royal public House at 10am followed by the flag raising ceremony at the car park. Following the formal proceedings, guests will also be invited to St David’s Community Centre for refreshments. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Alan Higgs, the council’s Armed Forces Champion said, “The annual flag raising event provides a fitting opportunity for the community to come together and recognise the contribution made by those who serve or have served in the armed forces. We are also delighted to be hosting the main South Wales Armed Forces Day event in Caerphilly town centre later the same week, which is a great news for the whole county borough.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr David Harse, Leader of the Community Council said “It is wonderful to have such a prestigious event brought to the community of Rhymney. The event will provide a great opportunity for local people and school children alike, to join in the remembrance and celebration of our armed forces men and women. I hope the local community will attend in good numbers and help make the event successful and memorable.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Rhymney ceremony will mark the countdown to the main South Wales Armed Forces Day event which will take place in Caerphilly Town Centre on Saturday 25th June. Hundreds of service men and women, veterans and cadets will parade through the town and there will be a sprawling military village at the rear of Caerphilly Castle featuring displays, activities, exhibitions and entertainment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​