Marching bands to show support for troops

The Forum will be using the 3rd Anniversary of the murder of Sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar at Massereene Army Barracks to Remember not only the two young lads but all those who have lost their lives during conflicts both in Northern Ireland and further afield.

According to spokesperson, Ryan Abraham, the parade will also allow the marching band fraternity and wider community to join together and unite in one voice to show continued support for the families of servicemen and women and also voice their condemnation of the continued attacks against the Armed Forces and Security Services.

The Marching Bands Forum have decided to take the lead in this show of support so that the families of the British Heroes know that they will continue the push for Justice.

Mr. Abraham said “We as a forum would like to firstly applaud the PSNI in their efforts to find those accountable for the 2009 Murders and welcome the ongoing investigation.

“Therefore we will host a parade of support for our servicemen/women and families which will move from Railway Street in Antrim to Massereene Barracks were an act of Remembrance and laying of floral tributes will take place before the parade makes its way back to Railway Street where the participants,

“Spectators and the wider community will be addressed. We as a Marching Bands Forum call on the whole Antrim community to join with us in support of our troops, servicemen and women and their families. We will stand together as one voice, one community and send out one clear message in Antrim as we did in March 2009 that we are united in strength and that we want the attacks to stop Justice to prevail and those responsible to be held accountable and prosecuted”.

The Antrim & District Marching Bands forum was established in 2011 and is made up of all antrim and district bands who meet monthly to discuss and plan events in relation to promotion of their heritage, culture and traditions.

The Forum stress that the event planned with be a respectable and dignified parade and act of remembrance with speakers addressing those involved at the end to relay the message that is behind the forum’s event including continued support for service men/woman their families, condemnation of attacks, standing together as one community to send out a clear message to everyone.