MEMBERS of the Armed Forces will be honoured at an annual event.

Armed Forces past, present and future will be remembered at a military parade and open air service.

There will also be a chance to support military organisations at stalls in the Victoria Shopping Centre Southend.

To introduce this special event, the Mayor of Southend, Andrew Moring will raise the Armed Forces Flag at 10am at Southend Civic Centre on Monday, June 22.

Armed Forces Veterans will join him at this ceremony where the Royal Artillery gun will also be there.

This will play an additional role during the open air service on Saturday, June 27 when it will be fired at 11am and 11.02am to mark the beginning and end of the two minutes silence being observed to remember those lost in armed conflicts.

The open air service will follow a military parade which starts at 10.30am near the railway bridge across Southend High Street, and will march towards Victoria Circus. Among those in the parade will be Armed Forces Veterans and members of the Southend Sea Cadet Unit.

At 10:45am, the parade will arrive at Victoria Circus to be welcomed by Mr Moring.

The service which follows will be led by the Rev Frank Smith, Chaplain to the Royal Artillery Association and the British Korean Veterans Association, and will include traditional hymns, the two minutes silence at 11am, the playing of the Last Post and Reveille.

It will be accompanied by Southend Boys and Girls Choirs, along with local singers and also the Southend Band which will give a 40-minute performance when the service ends at 11.30am.

Graham Longley, councillor responsible for enterprise, tourism and economic development, said: “This Armed Forces weekend offers everyone a special opportunity to celebrate members of the Armed Forces past, present and future, and to say thank you to them.

“We hope as many people as possible will come along to take part in the events, by watching the parade, taking part in the service, visiting the military organisation stalls in the Victoria Shopping Centre, or taking a look at the military vehicle display between 9am and 6pm on City Beach Southend Seafront on Sunday, June 28.

“These activities enable residents and visitors to meet members of the Armed Forces face to face, to show their gratitude and find out more about the service they have given.”