Please Sign the petition to save BFPO

Armed Forces have been advised that the BFPO facilities in mainland europe will be shut from September 2010. Personnel, and their families, deployed in europe currently enjoy the same postal rates as the UK. Withdrawal of this long established tradition will further erode personnel's ability to communicate with their families in the UK and safe receipt of parcels etc through a secure network.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveBFPO/

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BFBS Forces Radio Comes Home http://www.ssvc.com/bfbs/radio/

The British Forces’ favourite radio station launches nationwide on DAB Digital Radio at 0700 BST today, Monday 20^th April. BFBS Radio has been a lifeline for troops overseas for more than sixty years, and now it’s coming home.

“BFBS Radio exists to connect the Forces community,” says Controller of BFBS Radio, Charles Foster. “And now family and friends in the UK can stay connected, too. On day one, we’ll be linking up live with the Black Watch on ops in Afghanistan and their families in Inverness.”

Forces’ top brass are strongly behind this initiative from BFBS. The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, said: “The capability it will deliver in reaching so many of the Service Community is invaluable. I welcome the fact that while Forces’ personnel and their families overseas are kept in touch through the current service, it is those in the United Kingdom that will now be kept informed through their own Forces radio station. I am a keen supporter of BFBS on Digital – you have my very best wishes.”

The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, added his support, saying, “The provision of BFBS Radio across the United Kingdom is a positive step forward, not only for service personnel, but also for their partners, families and friends.”

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, is also behind the move: “This will be warmly welcomed by the wider RAF community across the UK. I look forward to the BFBS Radio audience expanding even further.”

During a 3-month trial on DAB Digital Radio last year, which reached almost a million listeners, one soldier’s wife said: “I listen to the station because it brings the world associated with the Forces right around you like a big hug. It's a reminder for me that although I sometimes think that I'm the only one in the world missing the man I love I’m not. BFBS helps keep the families left at home in touch, whether it be Dad, Mum, husband, wife, son, or daughter. It's a network that builds bridges and lets people share a thought, or dedicate a song sometimes to an ear that you know is listening. It gives morale a huge boost.”

Damian Watson, Head of Programmes, is confident that BFBS Radio will be a success in the tough UK radio market. “We have hugely talented presenters, who’ve lived and worked with the Forces around the world; we play fantastic music, we pack our programmes full of Forces news and reports and, most importantly, we connect a unique audience across the world.”

The Services’ Sound & Vision Corporation, the charity that has run the BFBS Radio and Television contract since 1983, is funding the DAB platform. The corporation’s chairman, Air Vice Marshal Andrew Vallance, says the move is a “ massive gesture of support to the men and women who serve our country at home and abroad.”

Congratulations to Hayley Mac who is representing the United Kingdom as Miss Galaxy UK

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Britain Flag is the national flag of Great Britain. You can also address the Britain Flag as Union Jack Flag, The UK Flag, and Union Jack British Flag.

Significance of Union Jack British Flag

Union Jack British Flag carries the crosses of St. Andrew, St. Patrick, and St. George. This signifies their respective countries Scotland, Ireland, and England. A red cross on a white field represents England; a white diagonal cross on a blue background represents Scotland while a red diagonal cross on a white field represents Ireland.

Normally the broader white band is on the upper side while the narrower white band diagonal is at the lower end of the flagpole. You can fly the Union Jack British Flag on government buildings on specific days like:

Commonwealth Day, which is the second Monday in March
Birthday of Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, on 10 March
Coronation Day on 2 June
Queen's Birthday on 21 April
Queen's Official Birthday in June, as date varies each year
Anniversary of Queen's Accession on 6 February
St George's Day on 23 April
Birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh on 10 June
Birthday of the Duke of York on 19 February
Birthday of the Royal Princess, Princess Anne, on 15 August
Birthday of the Prince of Wales on 14 November
Birthday of The Duchess of Cornwall on 17 July
Remembrance Sunday in November, as date varies each year
Queen's Wedding Day on 20 November
9 May as it is Europe Day
St George's Day on 23 April at England only
St David's Day on 1 March at Wales only
St Andrew's Day on 30 November at Scotland only

Ensigns

Union Jack British Flag appears as an ensign on sea vessels and aircraft of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories.

Use and Origin of Unionjack

There are various ongoing debates over the usage of the term Unionjack Flag. Some assert that the term should only refer to the national flag. Some others opine that the term is correct if you flow the national flag as a jack. A jack is a small flag flown at the bow of a ship.

The term Unionjack Flag has been prevalent since 1700s, although there is no clear indication of its origins. Jack could have come from James VI, King of Scots inheriting the English crown. It could be the Latin for ‘James’.

The Royal Navy was all-powerful at that time. Hence, all ships did use the Jack Staff, which is a flagpole at the bow of a ship. Such regular and rampant usage could be the cause behind use of Unionjack Flag.

Although this term has been in use since the reign of Queen Anne (1702-14), there is no concrete information to ascertain or establish its origin. Some also attribute it is origin to the jackets of Scottish and English soldiers. The jack-ets of these soldiers could have been the cause for inclusion of the name in the Flag.

Present-Day Use

Unionjack Flag originated as a Royal Flag. Nevertheless, many organizations and people fly the flag at various locations. It is also in use as an emblem. Sometimes it also comes as a depiction on some objects. BBC website prefers using the term in the lowercase as union jack due to the extensive confusions and controversies.

The Royal Army does not have any flag of its own. Therefore, Unionjack Flag also serves as the flag of the Army. Previously army men carried it to battles with the regimental colors of the Army. The last time was however in 1881.