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A ceremonial flag long thought lost was centre stage at an annual county-wide parade and service of remembrance held at a Kent charity.
The Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) standard, which dates back to the charity’s earliest years, was lovingly restored and returned to its original glory by sister charity Royal British Legion for the County Parade at the RBLI village in Aylesford.
It was carried on Sunday to mark 100 years of RBLI providing veterans and the disabled with employment, training, accommodation, care and support.
Branches of the Royal British Legion from across Kent were joined by Kent-based regiments, including Ditton 220 Medical Squadron, Maidstone Sea Cadets and Ditton Army Cadet Force.
The standards were escorted on the parade by the City of Rochester Pipe Band and the Salvation Army band.
RBLI chief executive Steve Sherry said: “Although we share a history and the same philosophy of supporting former servicemen and women, we are a separate charity from the Royal British Legion, with a focus on moving veterans towards independence.
“It was a proud moment for everyone at RBLI to see our standard return to the parade and mark our centenary and we are incredibly grateful for the Royal British Legion for having kindly brought their annual parade to the village for our residents.”
RBLI needs to raise a further £2m for the next stage of its Centenary Village project, which construction is set to start on this year.
It will include an assisted living scheme, 24 further apartments and 20 new family homes centered around a new state of the art community centre where veterans and their families will have access to welfare support and employment training and an accessible gym.
If every one of the 1.1 million adults currently living across Kent were to donate just £2, this crucial project would be fully-funded - with change to spare for the RBLI’s other worthy causes.
That’s why the KM is running its ‘Not 2 Much 2 Ask’ campaign - to encourage everyone to donate £2 by the end of the year and ensure this fantastic scheme, for our 2019 Charity of the Year, reaches its potential.
To donate £2, text ‘HOME’ to 70660* or visit rbli.co.uk/not2much2ask.
*Messages will be charged at £2 plus your standard network rate. You must be 16 years old and have the bill payer’s consent.
