Published: 02 July 2026
From: Community
This year’s Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 June was marked in Crawley with a commemorative ceremony, continuing the town’s commitment to honouring and supporting those who serve and have served in His Majesty’s Armed Forces.
Organised by Crawley Borough Council and supported by Crawley’s Civil Military Partnership, the ceremony opened with a performance from the Crawley Millenium Concert Band followed by the Surrey and Sussex Drum and Bugle Corps leading a procession of standard bearers, veterans, and cadets around Memorial Gardens, raising the Armed Forces Day flag and singing the national anthem.
The Mayor of Crawley, Councillor Marion Ayling gave a speech thanking the British Armed Forces.
Armed Forces Day gives us the chance to show our support not only for those currently serving, but also for veterans, service families and young people in the cadet organisations. Each of them plays a vital role in the wider Armed Forces community, and each deserves our recognition and thanks.
Councillor Marion Ayling
Mayor of Crawley
Crawley Borough Council
Unfortunately, due to the extreme heat weather warning, we had to change the format of the event at the last minute. What was important to us as a council was to bring people together and hold this commemorative ceremony, which reflects one of our long-standing commitments to our armed forces communities. Armed Forces Day is an opportunity not only to show our support, but to reaffirm our ongoing commitment to ensuring that the Armed Forces communities in Crawley are treated with fairness, respect and understanding.
Councillor Sue Mullins
Cabinet member for Community Engagement and Culture
Crawley Borough Council
Representatives from The Crawley and Horsham Veteran’s Breakfast Club and Crawley Veteran’s Breakfast Club attended the ceremony, along with councillors and members of the public.
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