Bridgend marks first Armed Forces Day The Mayor of Bridgend County Borough has praised the residents of the borough for the support they displayed for the UK’s first Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 June 2009. The main event in the borough was large parade through Bridgend town centre organised by the Bridgend & County Borough Veterans Association. Veterans led a march from Bridgend Recreation Centre to the town centre war memorial where there was a celebratory tribute to the armed forces. Residents turned out in their hundreds to applaud the parade and join in prayers and hymns around the war memorial. They also watched a presentation to local veteran Leslie Emery, who was a prisoner of the Japanese during World War Two and endured hardship and suffering whilst under forced labour on the infamous bridge on the River Kwai. He was moved to Japan after completion of the railroad and remained there until liberated by the Americans, surviving the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima. Leslie was presented with a Life Membership Certificate by the Bridgend & County Borough Veterans Association. Mayor Jeff Tildesley, accompanied by the Youth Mayor Lee Parker and Deputy Youth Mayor Liam Rose, and who represented Bridgend County Borough Council at the event, said: “It was extremely moving to see residents display such warm and heartfelt support for past and present armed forces.    More…. “It was a wonderful, celebratory event which reminded us all of Bridgend County Borough’s long and very proud association with the armed forces. I would like to thank the community for honouring them in this way.” Councillor Major Wayne Morgan MBE, who is chair of the Bridgend Branch of the Royal British Legion and the Bridgend & County Borough Veterans Association, and who organised the parade, added: “This special day was about celebrating our armed forces; a celebration of all that is good about our young men and women who serve in the most difficult of jobs, in defence of our nation and other nation states around the world. “It is true to say that our country ‘punches above its weight’ in terms of its armed forces’ capability.  This is not as a result of superior weaponry or military ideology, but quite simply due to its men and women, its soldiers, sailors and airmen, who are the bed rock of this nation. “We, as a nation should be proud to celebrate these courageous young men and women, for it is they who are the custodians of peace and security in our time. Bridgend County Borough can be extremely proud of its contribution and unqualified support to our armed forces. Bridgend County Borough Council marked Armed Forces Day 2009 by flying a special flag in the week leading up to the event. This will now be flown every year.