The end of what was probably the most grotesque war of all time, the so called Great War, ended at 11 am on the 11th of November 1918. There will be the usual commemorative services all over the country, but this year, the 100th anniversary, something a little different.
On Friday 9th November from midday we are all invited to bring a poppy to Penn Inn and display it in a set apart section as part of our individual remembrance. The RBL and local school children will be participating at 1pm And so it will be 100 years since this huge evil ended and it is right that we should both remember the sacrifice and reflect. Was the sacrifice worth it? What have we learnt? Do we know how to live together any better now than we did then?
I find Remembrance Day terribly sad, and I recall being at the Menin Gate 13 years ago and being moved to tears by simply witnessing what is a daily ritual at that huge memorial to the fallen. The impact on all those countries that participated is beyond telling and beyond measuring, and I wonder if as a nation we have recovered even yet?