For families with loved ones in the Armed Forces every year has its difficulties. Each Christmas, we at The Yellow Ribbon Foundation invite you to join with us in lighting A Christmas Candle of Hope.

At 2.00pm on Christmas Day we ask you to light a candle and to take a moment to pause and think:

Of our servicemen & women away from home, wherever in the world they may be and hope for their speedy and safe return

Of their families, apart at this special time, and hope they find strength in knowing that they will soon be re-united

Of those who have lost a loved one and hope they may find comfort.

Candles will be lit throughout the world, wherever our loved ones are, at the corresponding time and our thoughts will bring us all together. Please join us in lighting A Christmas Candle of Hope.

We have, for the third year in a row, the continued support for this event from Her Majesty the Queen and other senior Royals, the Prime Minister, the Chiefs of Defence Staff and other noted figures.

Our Managing Director, Victoria Evans, will also be on BFBS2 with Glen Mansell between 7am and 9am wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and asking people to join us in the Christmas Candle of Hope.

It's one minute of your time, on a day where we think of others. So let's show the true spirit of Chrismtas, and come together in this most simple but very special of events.

March 24th to 31st sees The Yellow Ribbon Foundation giving the British public an opportunity to show their non-political and unswerving support for our Armed Forces with our “Yellow Ribbon for the Forces Week”.

“Yellow Ribbon for the Forces Week” is about giving the British public an opportunity to show their non-political and unswerving support for our Armed Forces. No country has ever done anything like this before, including the Americans, which we found to be astounding. There have been occasions whereby homecoming parades have been held (e.g. Falkands and Gulf Wars) but never a show of appreciation for the men and women serving both at home as well as overseas on operational duties.

“Yellow Ribbon for the Forces Week” is about respecting everyone in the Armed Forces both overseas and at home, doing everyday jobs that are both diverse and vital to our country. In 2002 and 2003 we had thousands of serving personnel covering industrial action for example. We have seen the Armed Forces act as First Response to many natural disasters both in the UK and across the world including the Boxing Day Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina to name but two.

“Yellow Ribbon for the Forces Week” encourages everyday people to look beyond the politics of Iraq and Afghanistan to the selfless acts of men and women wanting to give something to their country and to those living in countries where freedom is not so readily available. It is a mark of respect to those individuals who are returning home from lengthy tours away from home, but for whom a homecoming parade will not be on the agenda. Most of all it is about giving the public a chance to say “I don’t agree with Iraq/Afghanistan/wherever, we should never have been involved in the first place, but I will wear my yellow ribbon with pride for this is not about politics, it’s about simply showing respect”.

What can people do in this week? Put up our poster, don’t be afraid to say “thanks” to serving personnel for what they do, decorate your street with yellow ribbons, and be proud that we have many school leavers who – knowing the dangers of Iraq and Afghanistan – still wish to make a difference, and to serve in our Armed Forces.

The Yellow Ribbon Foundation has been encouraging this kind of public support since it was established in 2003 – and we will continue to do so for as long as there is a British Armed Forces.