ON June 24 Britain marks Armed Forces Day, a time when we can come together and collectively show our support for all those who make up the armed forces community, from those currently serving and their families to cadets and veterans.

Already celebrations have begun. The Armed Forces Day flag was raised in Clyde Square on Monday, communities across the country are sharing news of fun days and parades with the hashtag #ArmedForcesDay and yesterday Reserve Day took place, a special day to celebrate the contribution of reservists, such as those currently at work overseas in Afghanistan and Northern Iraq.

Last weekend, I joined Provost Martin Brennan, council leader Stephen McCabe and hundreds of people from across Inverclyde and Renfrewshire at a special service in Paisley Abbey to recognise the people, past and present, who served the forces.

It was, as these events so often are, both a way of expressing our gratitude as a community for the selflessness of all those in active service now and a way of recognising the sacrifices made by those servicemen and women who are no longer with us.

While there will be parades, parties and plenty of civic engagements this week in honour of our troops, it was fitting that Provost Brennan, the Provost of Renfrewshire and the Lord Lieutenant also made sure to attend a war memorial, laying wreathes and remembering the fallen.

We will never know all the sacrifices that our troops and their families make in service of our country. 

Some have made the ultimate sacrifice. Others have endured life-changing injuries or need extra help to reintegrate into civilian life.

The forces lifestyle can make it difficult for a family to put down roots. Moving from one location to another, perhaps even overseas, affects schooling for children and it can make it difficult for the partners of those serving to find or keep a job.

It is not an easy way of life – and we owe the people who choose it a great deal. 

On Armed Forces Day we salute them all and thank them for what they do in service of our country.