The move follows a petition launched by Short Heath local John Elwell, calling on the government to create such a monthOne of the founders of Short Heath Lest We Forget CIC, John Elwell, pictured April 2025(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service )

Walsall Council has agreed to host a month-long celebration of uniformed personnel in the run up to armed forces day on June 28, 2025.

The move follows a petition launched by Short Heath local John Elwell, calling on the government to create such a month.

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Councillor Amandeep Garcha, representing Short Heath, and Walsall Council’s armed forces champion, councillor Adam Hicken, brought John’s petition to a meeting of the full council last week.

The pair put forward a notice of motion asking members to support John’s petition and to write to the government minister for the armed forces to implement the national month-long celebration.

The labour group put forward an amendment to the motion to create a local month-long celebration across the borough, managed by the Walsall Council.

Members voted unanimously in favour of the motion and gave a round of applause to John for his efforts.

John, 68, said: “I was overwhelmed. To have a room full of councillors give you a standing ovation and support it, it gives you a feeling that you may have started something that’s going to be worthwhile and beneficial.

“I didn’t start the petition to get recognition for me, it’s recognition for everyone else. We need more than a day to show our appreciation to the armed forces.

“If you think about your uniformed services, the people who put a uniform on, they could all go to work and not come back the same night.”

“When there’s a fire, people run out of the building, it takes a special sort of person to run into it.

“With policing, there’s all the knife crime and they simply can go to work in the morning and not know if they’re going to be alive at the end of the day.

“We don’t show enough appreciation for people who do that. It hasn’t got to be anything formal but for one month, let them know they’re appreciated.”

John is one of the founders of Short Heath Lest We Forget CIC which was formed during the pandemic.

The group is responsible for a memorial bench at High Road memorial, and memory orchard of over 100 trees at Coppice Farm.

At Christmas, the group treats 70 veterans for a three course meal on Christmas Day and is also behind the 66 Christmas lights along High Road.

Councillors praised John for the work carried out by the community group and supported the notice of motion.

Leader of the council, councillor Garry Perry, said: “It is with full pride that I rise to support this motion. One that carries deep significance, sentiment and substance.

“But this isn’t just about that ceremonial recognition, it’s about building a culture of gratitude and one of respect.

“Behind every uniform is a person, a family, a story. Their service is not just an abstract idea, it is real and it is remarkable.”

Leader of the labour group, councillor Matt Ward, said: “As councillors we have a unique power of responsibility to shape the future of our communities.

“We hold the ability to make decisions that can have profound and lasting impact on those we prepresent.

“This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war, it’s a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our armed forces. It gives us all the more reason that we never forget their service and dedication.”

Leader of the independent group, councillor Aftab Nawaz, said: “We’ve got the highest regard for those people who put their lives at stake and look after us and all our families.

“Whether they are doctors, nurses or carers, or the ultimate sacrifice and those of the veterans.

“An important thing about this is to bring it into schools to make sure our young grow up, not only respecting the sacrifices people made and the services they give, but also becoming those people who serve for our communities.”

To view John’s petition for the government to implement a national month-long celebration of uniformed services, click here.