|
Mar 22 at 5:48pm
Well over 400 personnel and their families serving with Headquarters, Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) participated in a Welcome Home service and ceremony on Wednesday, 21st March at the Gloucester Cathedral.
 |
| Trumpeters from the Royal Signals herald the arrival of the official party |
The event, organized and presented by the Gloucestershire County Council, welcomed home members of the HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) who recently returned from a year-long deployment to
Afghanistan.
The event was led by the Dean of Gloucester, the Very Reverend Stephen Lake, and commenced with a formal procession of the ARRC commander, Lieutenant General James Bucknall CBE, the Gloucester Mayor, Councillor Andrew Lewis, the Gloucestershire High Sherriff Mark Heywood, the Gloucestershire County Council Chairman Brian Thornton, and the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire Dame Janet Trotter, as well as flag bearers carrying the NATO and HQ ARRC flags.
During their year-long deployment to Afghanistan (January 2011 to January 2012), HQ ARRC personnel served admirably in critical positions at Headquarters International Security Assistance Force (HQ ISAF) and the ISAF Joint Command (IJC), both in Kabul.
Addressing the group during the service, the Lord Lieutenant, Dame Janet Trotter said "It is now some eighteen months since we first welcomed the men and women of the ARRC to
Gloucester. (During your deployment to
Afghanistan) we’ve sought to be good neighbors to your families, and we’ve lit candles and prayed for your work in
Afghanistan. I welcome you back home, on behalf of all the people of Gloucestershire.”
 |
| Lord Lieutenant Dame Janet Trotter addresses the congrgation |
Numerous serving and family members of the ARRC, drawn from UK and several of the ARRC’s Partner Nations, also contributed to the Service, with a Reading and Prayers of Intercession.
HQ ARRC commander Lieutenant General James Bucknall reflected on the ARRC’s accomplishments while on deployment in
Afghanistan. "The fact is, real progress is being accomplished on the ground (in
Afghanistan). This is not just a matter of national security…the lives of Afghans are (gradually) improving.
Commenting on the service at the cathedral, Bucknall said "Today is our opportunity to thank the people of Gloucestershire. Though we come from many different countries, we are proud to call Gloucestershire our home.”
Councillor Brian Thornton, Chair of Gloucestershire County Council and hosting the ceremony at the Cathedral, said: "The evensong service, which has been arranged to welcome home the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps from their recent deployment to
Afghanistan, is an important event for the people of Gloucestershire. (The) service provides us with an opportunity to show our gratitude for the work they do keeping us safe and to welcome them back into our community.”
 |
|
Spanish, Italian, Turkish and Czech members of HQ ARRC
during the Cathedral Servicel |
|