Weekend a nation said thanks to Armed Forces

In blazing sunshine and beneath fluttering flags, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in support of Britain's servicemen and women on the second annual Armed Forces Day.

From the youngest cadet to the oldest veteran, and with a special thought for those now in harm's way, all were honoured for their sacrifice and service at events held in towns and cities across the country both on Saturday and yesterday.

In Leeds yesterday, serving soldiers, veterans and cadets marched to the Town Hall where the Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff and Lord Mayor took the salute before attending a church service.

The centrepiece of the occasion was a fly-past from a Douglas DC-3 Dakota transport plane, while in Beverley a Spitfire flew overhead to mark the celebrations there.

In Scunthorpe, a Spitfire and a Sea King helicopter flew over Quibell Park, watched by the town's guest of honour, Air Vice-Marshal Barry North, Assistant Chief of Air Staff.

Troops were cheered by a crowd of about 50,000 during a parade through Cardiff. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were joined in the Welsh capital by the head of the Armed Forces Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup and Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox .

Other major celebrations were held in Edinburgh, where

guests included the head of the Army, General Sir David Richards, and Manchester, which welcomed the head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope.

Special Armed Forces day flags were hoisted above Government and council buildings throughout the UK, including 10 Downing Street.

The Queen sent a message of support, hailing the "professionalism and courage" of Britain's Armed Forces.

"The men and women of our Armed Forces have always been admirable examples of professionalism and courage," she said. "Then as now, they perform their duties in often the most difficult and dangerous of circumstances, both at home and overseas."

The public's response brought cheer to many in military circles.

Adam Douglas, a former soldier from Seacroft, Leeds, permanently injured by a rocket-propelled grenade in Basra, southern Iraq, in 2003, and who founded the charity The Forgotten Heroes, said of the events in Leeds: "It means a great deal to me personally to see the general public showing their appreciation for the work of Britain's Armed Forces and the sacrifices so many have made."

Second World War veteran Jim Plenty, 90, of Merthyr Tydfil, said it was "high time" Britain's Armed Forces got the recognition they deserved.

He described receiving a veterans' badge from the Prince of Wales at a ceremony in Cardiff as a "once in a lifetime experience".

But he said it was important that other servicemen and women were credited for their "fantastic" work.

"This has been an absolutely marvellous event and I would not have missed it for the world," said Mr Plenty, who served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers from 1940 to 1946.

"The armed services in this country have always done a fantastic job and I think it is high time they got public recognition."

The occasion was marked with events at bases throughout Helmand Province in Afghanistan.

Troops at Main Operating Base Lashkar Gah decorated the cook house with banners and flags and planned an evening of bingo.

Captain Alex Bowie, 27, from the Queen's Royal Lancers, said: "We're all working hard in difficult conditions and we are making progress, but it's a real boost to know that people are thinking of us."

The events were particularly poignant for the families of the 10,000 British troops currently serving in Afghanistan.

Events ranged from parades to fancy-dress skydive

Armed Forces Day, which incorporates the annual Veterans Day introduced in 2006, was created last year following criticism that Britain did not do enough to recognise the bravery and sacrifice of its service personnel.

More than 350 events were staged over the weekend, ranging from a gathering of about 50,000 at a national event in Cardiff to smaller functions in towns and villages.

These included parades, a mass skydive in fancy dress, displays of working military animals and vintage military vehicles, and a mock Army field kitchen.

Among the more unusual events to mark the occasion was an exhibition in Hereford of knitted items in "patriotic colours", including a 13ft wide Union Flag, in memory of Rifleman Will Aldridge, 18, who was killed in Afghanistan last year.

In Afghanistan, Task Force Helmand spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, said: "I think it's humbling that people are taking time out to pay tribute."