It was an honour and a privilege to pay my respects and pay tribute to our Armed Forces at two socially distanced services in Bury St Edmunds this weekend.
It is always incredibly difficult to imagine the scale of loss endured during both world wars, with communities across the country seeing a generation of young men taken from them. Rows of graves in foreign fields and monuments for those whose bodies were never found.
This year we honoured the 75th anniversary of the allied victory in Europe – VE Day. The 8th May 1945 was met was celebrations across the country and marked the end of a conflict that had cost millions of lives and, brought destruction across the continent. The years following, would not be easy, and measures such as rationing continued for some time beyond the end of the war.
The sacrifices that so many people made towards a collective effort seem somewhat appropriate at this time. While the current challenge we face is significant, we can turn to our past and take inspiration from the momentous effort that was made to preserve the freedoms we hold dear.
From my involvement with the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, I had the pleasure to spend time with the dedicated members of our armed forces. They truly are the best of British and we should never forget that they and their forbearers are the reason we live in a free and prosperous nation.
At a time when this country once again faces a new & difficult challenge in Coronavirus, our Armed Forces have continued to be the backbone of our society. Helping deliver PPE & Testing kits across the country and supporting the NHS in delivering vital care to our communities. I would like to thank each and everyone of them for their hard work and dedication in serving our nation.
Wherever you find yourself this remembrance Sunday, please take a moment to remember and pay tribute to the fallen but also our brave service leavers and serving personnel.
This year has been a very different remembrance Sunday and I know many constituents were unable to attend remembrance services this year due to COVID restrictions, but you can still donate to the Royal British Legion appeal here https://bit.ly/2IgT2ql
