Remembrance Sunday has passed once again, but our duty to remember endures every day of the year.
The poppies may have been pinned to our lapels and the bugle of the Last Post may have faded into silence, yet when I was at Solihull’s St Alphege Church on Sunday, I was reminded of the responsibility we all share to preserve the memory of those who served.
This year carried special significance, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War. Since King George V first led the commemorations in 1919, the act of remembrance has grown to encompass all who have suffered through war, including the families of servicemen and women.
True remembrance is not just about silence, but about action. It is about putting an arm around those who have lost loved ones, asking “how are you?”, shouting them a cup of tea or pint, and listening to their stories. These are men and women who once stood in defence of our country.
Great Britain, for all its imperfections, has been truly great. We have given the world the English language, the rule of law, a constitutional monarchy that stands as one of the most stable and representative systems of government, trial by jury, and the belief that freedom is safeguarded by law.
We have also shared our culture, from Shakespeare and The Beatles, not to mention our sports like cricket, rugby, and tennis. These civic, cultural, and sporting exports have helped shape the modern world.
We have stood firm in the face of tyranny – from taking the fight to Nazi Germany eight decades ago, to standing today with Ukraine in its struggle for freedom against Putin’s Russia. These values should unite us as a people.
But remembrance must also look forward. Recent surveys show that three in five Britons say they would not fight if our country came under attack. Recruitment and retention in our Armed Forces are under strain. Too many talk down our country rather than praise it. We must rededicate ourselves to teaching the next generation why freedom is never free, and reignite a sense of pride in our country.
The privileges we enjoy today exist only because others before us decided to make the ultimate sacrifice.
So, let us try to make an ongoing effort to thank and remember those who have, and still are, defending our British way of life – not just next November, but always.
Lest we forget.
