Fly The Red Ensign For Merchant Navy Day

Representatives of Veterans organisations and members of the armed forces will join the Lord Mayor of Cardiff Cllr Monica Walsh for a flag raising ceremony at Cardiff Castle on Friday to show support for the UK’s merchant seafarers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The flag of the Merchant Navy, The Red Ensign, will be raised to mark Merchant Navy Day and honour the seafarers past and present who have served their country with such distinction over the years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Cllr Monica Walsh said: “As Lord Mayor of Cardiff it is a privilege to host a national Flag Raising event in honour of the Merchant Navy. The UK’s prosperity has been dependent on the Merchant Navy since the beginning of international trade. During the two World Wars, without merchant ships and brave seafarers the UK would have been starved of food and denied other essential supplies. The ceremony on Friday is a fitting tribute to the brave men and women who have kept our island nation afloat and even during peacetime faced – and continue to face – the more routine perils of violent storms and mountainous seas.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The raising of the Red Ensign, or ‘Red Duster’, as it is affectionately known, has been the recognised flag of the Merchant Navy since 1854. It has been proudly flown across the oceans of the world in peace time and throughout dangerous conflicts. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ceremony will start at 9.30am and the flag will be raised at 10.00am. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​