Stirling named as venue for 2014 Armed Forces Day celebrations Stirling is to host the annual celebration of the UK's armed forces next year. The Ministry of Defence named the city as the venue for Armed Forces Day on June 28, 2014. It is the second Scottish city to host the event after Edinburgh took on the role in 2011. The sixth edition of the annual celebration will take place three months before the independence referendum. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "I congratulate the city of Stirling on its successful bid to host the UK Armed Forces Day event next year. I know that Stirling, with its strong historic military links with the Army and the Royal Air Force, will mount a spectacular celebration of our military and lead the rest of the United Kingdom in honouring our armed forces personnel past and present. Our armed forces are an institution that serve and protect all of us as a United Kingdom. The Scottish Government's veterans minister, Keith Brown, said: "I am delighted that the UK Armed Forces Day event is coming to Stirling and returning to Scotland so soon after it was held in Edinburgh in 2011. That was a magnificent event and this gives a further opportunity for people across Scotland to show how much they support and appreciate the selfless service of our servicemen and women. Stirling Provost Mike Robbins said the city was "tremendously proud" to be chosen to host the celebrations. "We can now look forward to a truly spectacular set of events next June," he said. Major General Nick Eeles, the General Officer Commanding Scotland, said: "Scotland has a fine military tradition and Scottish sailors, soldiers and airmen, as well as those from other parts of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth who are based in Scotland, look forward to taking part in the many celebrations of their service which will be organised around the country."