Singing up for our boys at Armed Forces Day in park
SONG TO BE PERFORMED AS PART OF CELEBRATION
A song written about Seaham is to help mark the service its people have given for their country.
Armed Forces Day will be marked with a ceremony led by the Seaham Remember Them Fund and the town council,bringingtogetherrepresentatives of the Royal BritishLegion,cadets,community groups and veterans.
This year’s event will also feature a performance by former town council leader and mayor Ed Mason, who will singSeahamLiveOn,asonghe wrote about his home town.
It is hoped youngsters will also learn the lyrics and accompany him.
Dave McKenna, who was a Colour Sergeant in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, heads up the Seaham Remember Them Fund and approached Ed about singing his song.
Hesaid:“It’srelevanttohim because he wrote it about leaving Seaham and coming back, but it’s really relevant to anyone going and coming back.
“This will be the seventh year of Armed Forces Day being held at the park.
“It’s just continuing what we do, because there’s Armistice Day and there’s also this, which lets us celebrate and remember.”
Ed, who served on the council for 30 years until 2013 and was the authority’s first leader, said: “I was at a mayor making ceremony and Dave came up to me and asked if I would get involved after hearing the song.
“He thought it was absolutely appropriate for Armed Forces Day.
“I’m very happy to have been approached and I know it’s gone out on Facebook to get others involved.”
Ed’s appearance on a local news broadcast, where the song helped mark the town’s 150th anniversary, has been shared to help people learn the track.
The service will be held in Seaham Town Park on Saturday, June 24, and will begin at 12.30pm with a 15-minute performance by Murton Colliery Band.
It will be followed by a drumhead service, featuring the standards of Murton and Seaham’s Royal British Legion branches and Ed’s song.
In addition to Armed Forces Day, the ceremony will also mark the 100th anniversary of theBattleofPasschendaele,also known as the Third Battle of Ypres Battle of Mud, during the First World War.
It will also acknowledge the 35th anniversary of the Falklands War.
The service will come to a close at around 1.30pm, when a party in the park will start.
Live bands Remould, Stoney Broke and Brit Union, along with three solo artists, will perform, with the stage to be hosted by Ian Campbell.
Children’s rides will be set up and stalls raising cash for charitiesincludingMacmillan and the mayor’s fund, will run.
A further service to mark the Battle of Passchendaele’s anniversary will be held on Sunday, July 30, at 11am at the war memorial on Terrace Green in the town.