I've been reflecting a lot this week on how the country is experiencing a much changed set of Remembrance Day commemorations, observing that there has been a considerable amount of effort to mark the occasion in the most appropriate way, given the current circumstances and the restrictions we must all apply to aspects of our lives.
The poem "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon, is an emotional and powerful reminder that millions of service people have given their lives for us in the ultimate sacrifice. Also, remembering that many more service personnel continue to give of themselves every day and are constantly putting themselves in harm’s way to ensure that we are able to experience our 'freedom'.
We must not forget them, we must remember them and all that they have done for us to maintain our freedom. Even now and so much more poignant at the moment, as we more recently find ourselves essentially considerably more confined in our lives and homes, even though we are not actually imprisoned in them, it can and certainly has felt like it sometimes.
Giving the ultimate sacrifice, committing themselves to a clear and unarguable risk that they face death in whatever aspect of the service they might provide, is something that is difficult for all of us to understand at times but for which I am sure we are all very grateful.
Even in these trying and uncertain times we still have so much to be thankful for. Let's really recognise this and in doing so, I encourage us all to reflect and consider all those that have been effected by the loss of their loved ones and to support the various organisations that remain and maintain a lifeline to the veterans and those who are left behind, when the normal types of fundraising activities are not possible at the moment.
