Communities will pay tribute to the country’s Armed Forces later this month with events across Suffolk and north Essex.

Armed Forces Day, which takes place on Saturday, June 29, raises awareness of the contribution made by those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces.

In Bury St Edmunds the celebrations, which will run from 11am-5pm, will be even more poignant with the homecoming parade of RAF Honington 15 Squadron from their recent deployment in Afghanistan and their medal presentations on Angel Hill.

The Abbey Gardens will close in the morning to allow 15 Squadron to line up before parading through the town centre led by the Band of 3 Royal Anglian Regiment. Other attractions will include 301 (Bury St Edmunds) Sqn ATC Drill Display, the Honington Military Wives Choir, a field gun challenge and vintage dancing.

There will be a salute and march past near the War Memorial on Angel Hill which will be taken by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns, the Station Commander of RAF Honington and the Mayor of St Edmundsbury.

Lowestoft will enjoy a day of celebrations at The Royal Green with marching bands, a parade and drumhead service and military vehicle displays from 10am to 4pm.

Two flag-flying ceremonies will be held in Ipswich on June 24 at 10.30am. Mayor Hamil Clarke will lead the event outside the Town Hall while Ipswich Borough Council leader David Ellesmere will do the honours outside Grafton House.

In Essex, a specially-commissioned Armed Forces Flag, due to be blessed by the Rev Canon Dr David Titley, will be raised outside Clacton Town Hall on June 24 at 11am. Several organisations will also be at the ceremony with their own standards.

Colchester will also raise a flag outside the Town Hall the same day.