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| Armed Forces Day held in Newtownards | Armed Forces Day held in Newtownards |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Newtownards is hosting Northern Ireland's Armed Forces Day celebrations for the first time ever. | Newtownards is hosting Northern Ireland's Armed Forces Day celebrations for the first time ever. |
| The programme of events in the County Down town includes a parade of military personnel and an air display. | The programme of events in the County Down town includes a parade of military personnel and an air display. |
| The gathered crowd will also get to see a "combined capability operation" involving ground and air troops. | The gathered crowd will also get to see a "combined capability operation" involving ground and air troops. |
| It is the first time people in Northern Ireland will have had the chance to see such an operation up close. | It is the first time people in Northern Ireland will have had the chance to see such an operation up close. |
| The event began at 11:00 BST with a parade through the town to the airfield where the main events are taking place. | |
| Mayor of Ards, Philip Smith, said the event would be a "people's pageant". | Mayor of Ards, Philip Smith, said the event would be a "people's pageant". |
| "The purpose of the event - which will be echoed by other official Armed Forces Day events around the United Kingdom - is to provide an insight into the work of the armed services and to recognise and honour all those who serve," he said. | "The purpose of the event - which will be echoed by other official Armed Forces Day events around the United Kingdom - is to provide an insight into the work of the armed services and to recognise and honour all those who serve," he said. |
| He added that the military capability demonstration would be "one of the most exciting" ever seen in Northern Ireland. | He added that the military capability demonstration would be "one of the most exciting" ever seen in Northern Ireland. |
| "We have a proud and long-standing military history in Ards borough and Armed Forces Day will give us an exciting new platform from which to showcase that heritage." | "We have a proud and long-standing military history in Ards borough and Armed Forces Day will give us an exciting new platform from which to showcase that heritage." |
| On Friday evening, the Armed Forces Day celebrations started in Donaghadee, County Down, with a simulated amphibious assault on the harbour and a visit by HMS Pursuer. | On Friday evening, the Armed Forces Day celebrations started in Donaghadee, County Down, with a simulated amphibious assault on the harbour and a visit by HMS Pursuer. |