Sunderland to honour emergency services on '999' day

At 9am, on the ninth day of the ninth month (999) the 999-Emergency Services Day flag will be raised above the Civic Centre, as public buildings across the country fly the flag to show their appreciation for emergency service workers.

People are also invited to join in a two-minute silence honouring all those who have lost their lives in service.

It comes after the pandemic has seen months of heightened awareness of the important role our emergency services workers play and the risks they face in carrying out their jobs.

This is the third consecutive year of this annual commemoration launched by the charity National Emergency Services Memorial in 2017.

The charity aims to raise public awareness of the work and sacrifice of all those involved, and to raise money to build a permanent, national monument honouring more than 7000 people who have died trying to help others, which is now in progress.Based on the success of Armed Forces Day, Emergency Services Day is also designed to promote the work of the emergency services, share community safety messages and encourage more people to volunteer in roles ranging from special constables and retained firefighters, to RNLI/Coastguard crew and NHS community responders.The Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor David Snowdon, said: "This year it feels more important than ever that we show our appreciation for our NHS and emergency services workers; the people who protect us and keep us safe.

"More than two million people make up our emergency services in a variety of roles, including 250,000 first responders. This is our opportunity to say thank you, and perhaps find out a little more about how to get involved with volunteering or training ourselves."Sunderland City Council is proud to support national Emergency Services Day on Wednesday 9 September, and hope people will see the flag raised at the civic centre and other public buildings and be encouraged to pay their own personal tributes."

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