MEMBERS of 1 Rifles from Beachley Barracks will be parading in Coleford on Saturday (June 27) as part of the very first national Armed Forces Day.
Forest people will have an opportunity to give their own welcome home to our troops following their tour of duty in Afghanistan.
A regimental band and a contingent of the First Battalion will parade through Coleford town centre at 10am. They will be exercising the privileges of the Freedom of the Forest of Dean granted by the District Council.
Council chairman Councillor Marrilyn Smart, with Brigadier Nick Welch and Coleford mayor Sue Merrikin, will take the salute. Councillor Smart will then read the names of the eight soldiers who gave their lives during the Afghanistan posting.
She said: "We are extremely proud of what the First Battalion and their comrades achieved during a difficult and dangerous posting. We are delighted to confer the Freedom of the district upon the regiment and I hope that the soldiers of the First Battalion will be made to feel at home in the Forest of Dean."
Local ex-servicemen and members of the Army Cadet Force will also be on parade and the veterans will be able to share some tales with the lads of today's army.
A celebration and family fun day will be held in the Buchanan Recreation Ground following the parade.
The Royal Air Force will be paying their own tribute to the Rifles as they are hoping that a WWII Spitfire will perform a flypast at approximately 1pm, weather permitting.