{"id":70282,"date":"2026-06-26T16:16:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T15:16:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=70282"},"modified":"2026-06-26T16:16:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T15:16:31","slug":"honouring-our-armed-forces-armed-forces-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/honouring-our-armed-forces-armed-forces-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Honouring our Armed Forces during Armed Forces Week\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Devon communities are marking Armed Forces Week 2026 by recognising the service and contribution of serving personnel, veterans,\u00a0reservists\u00a0and military families across the county.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armed Forces Week is a national opportunity for communities, organisations and public bodies to show their support for those who serve, or have served, along with their families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As\u00a0a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant,\u00a0we are committed to ensuring that people who serve, or have served, are treated fairly and recognised for the\u00a0important role\u00a0they play in society, and we are proud to support the week.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are proud to be able to share some personal stories from councillors and members with military backgrounds or family connections, highlighting the lasting impact of military service on public life and local communities. <\/p>\n\n\n

\r\n\t
\r\n

Councillor Richard Keeling, who served in the RAF, shares what Armed Forces Day means to him:<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cI’ve celebrated Armed Forces Day every year as a councillor, as a leader and as a mayor previously, and I think it’s so important that the community recognises what work the armed\u00a0 forces personnel do for us, keeping us safe.<\/p>\n

“It’s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>very important<\/span>\u00a0that we recognise this\u00a0<\/span>because\u00a0<\/span>we’ve<\/span>\u00a0signed up to a covenant\u00a0<\/span>between ourselves<\/span> and the Armed Forces where we can\u00a0\u00a0 help those <\/span>mainly resettle<\/span>\u00a0into the\u00a0<\/span>comm<\/span>unity after\u00a0<\/span>they’ve<\/span> come out of the armed forces.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
\r\n Councillor Richard Keeling, Cabinet Member for Adults Services<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n
\r\n\t
\r\n

British Army veteran, Councillor Mick Cockerham, also reflects on what the day represents: <\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cBeing an Armed Forces veteran,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0great that we recognize\u00a0Armed Forces Day.\u00a0It’s\u00a0not just a calendar\u00a0event;\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a lifelong appreciation for it.<\/p>\n

“Whenever you see the military or a veteran or a remembrance, you reflect on it and and try to encourage attendance. That will go a long way to sustaining our love for the military.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
\r\n Councillor Mick Cockerham<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n
\r\n\t
\r\n

Army veteran, Councillor Neil Stevens reflected on his time in the military, and\u00a0his\u00a0proudest and most nerve-wracking moment:\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cI\u00a0was a boy\u00a0soldier and\u00a0joined the army.\u00a0I\u2018ve\u00a0done three tours of\u00a0Afghanistan\u00a0and have been all over the world.<\/p>\n

“My proudest and the most nervous moment was meeting The Queen who presented me with my QVRM medal, and of all the tours and everything I\u2019ve ever done, that was my most nervous time.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
\r\n Councillor Neil Stevens QVRM<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n\n

As part of the week\u2019s events, Vice Chair Councillor Syed Jusef represented the council at the Exeter Armed Forces Day Parade on Saturday 20 June, joining communities from across the county in recognising the contribution of serving personnel and veterans.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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\r\n

Councillor Jusef said:\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cArmed Forces Day is a special opportunity to say thank you to our soldiers,\u00a0veterans\u00a0and their families.<\/p>\n

“In Devon, we are proud of our Armed Forces community. People from many different backgrounds serve our country, and their dedication deserves our respect. We thank them for their service and their sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
\r\n Councillor Syed Jusef, Vice Chair of the Council<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2385,"featured_media":70283,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[34,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-uncategorised"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":70283,"title":"Armed Forces Day 2026","alt":"Armed Forces Day 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