Students from the Island’s secondary schools will be among the proud participants in Armed Forces Day on Sunday 26th June. Around 100 students will join hundreds of veterans in a parade along Douglas’s promenades at 3pm and at the church service at the Villa Marina that follows it at 3.45pm. It is the fourth time that schools have taken part in Armed Forces Day – a national event – and its predecessor, Veterans’ Day. Schools first got involved in 2007. For St Ninian’s High School, Armed Forces Day is the climax of a year of work for Year 9 students on the events of World Wars One and Two and how they impacted on the people of the Isle of Man. Andrew Wilkinson, the school’s Assistant Head of History, said: ‘St Ninian’s has supported Armed Forces Day since 2007. It is an opportunity to reward for our Year 9 pupils who have shown attainment, endeavour and, most importantly, enthusiasm in their history studies. ‘Pupils get a real kick out of meeting veterans in an informal atmosphere. Participating in Armed Forces Day also fits in nicely with our syllabus and we are able to establish links for the pupils with our Tell Me Project activities and our yearly visits from Normandy veterans Hector Duff and Albert Phair. It also fits in with our regular theme of remembrance, especially in the year that sees the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion.’ St Ninian’s students will, for the second year running, set up a special TV studio at the Villa Marina and will interview veterans and serving members of the Armed Forces who are returning to the Island for the occasion. ‘Last year was the first time we produced a DVD and it featured the parade and the ceremony,’ Mr Wilkinson said. ‘However, the main focus of the DVD was the Question Time-style interviews with D-Day veterans, National Servicemen and service personnel of today. We hope to encourage new people to talk to our pupils this year, as those who participated last year certainly go a lot out of it.’ The theme of this year’s church service, which will be led by Archdeacon Brian Smith, is comradeship, reflecting the RBL anniversary. Schools are already marking the anniversary via assemblies, events and competitions and will take part in the high point of the year’s celebrations, the 11/11/11 gala concert at the Villa Marina. Armed Forces Day culminates in a tea and an evening of entertainment at the Villa Marina, which many students will stay on for. Samantha Ash, 18, a student at the Isle of Man College, will sing three songs. Eddie Teare MHK, Minister for Education and Children, said he was pleased that schools were playing their part in honouring armed forces personnel past and present. ‘Armed Forces Day has become a regular fixture in secondary schools’ calendars and students and staff are proud to take part in the parade and to attend the church service and chat to veterans over tea afterwards,’ he said. ‘Even more of our young people are involved through the cadets’ organisations and bands that participate.’ Brigadier Norman Butler CBE chairs the Armed Forces’ Day committee, which has the patronage of the Lieutenant Governor, President of Tynwald and Chief Minister and is made up of representatives of all the Island’s ex-service organisations. He said: ‘Ninety percent of the Island’s veterans served either in World War Two or during National Service, which finished in 1960, so the youngest of these is now 70. The enthusiasm of students to take part in the celebration of the service of their senior citizens and to understand what happened all those years ago is a source of great pride and comfort to every veteran. ‘It is also critically important that the banner of memory is carried forward as these old veterans inevitably fade from the scene and we hope that the youngsters taking part will do just that. ‘We must not forget those, not much older than the students marching, who are serving now in circumstances of great challenge and danger and I know that the serving personnel who take part in our big day are always impressed by the participation of so many from the schools. I congratulate everyone involved from the schools, staff and pupils alike.’ Application forms for free tickets for Armed Forces Day can be obtained from the Villa Marina box office, the Manx Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal, the Manx Legion Club in Douglas or local commissioners’ offices or contact Ann Wilson at 1 Kensington Avenue, Douglas IM1 3ET, or see this week’s Isle of Man Examiner. Ends