The two minutes of silence beside a war memorial on Remembrance Sunday is a remarkable time.

It makes you think of so many things – sacrifice, times past and times to come. People you’ve lost, people you love. And as you stand there, head bowed, you think of those millions who gave their lives – literally, or because they were horribly wounded or scarred mentally.

Year after year there seem to be more ordinary people coming along to pay their respects and that’s only right, but everyone should take a second out of those two minutes to consider the Royal British Legion, the people who organise each and every Remembrance event in our borough and across the country.

These people are volunteers – unpaid citizens who put in the hours so we can show our respect  – volunteers who don’t seek financial reward or even thanks. We should take a second to stop and think about them, and to say thank you if you can.

Volunteers don’t only appear at this time of year or even at Olympic time. Volunteers are the people who silently make all our lives that little bit better and seek nothing in return.

Finally, I would like to look forward. Next year is the centenary of the start of the First World War. We must be certain the events planned between next summer and November 2018 are not seen as celebrations, but as reminders of the dangers facing us all when intolerance is allowed to outweigh common sense.

It is so important the young people of today are taught about what happened in France, Belgium and elsewhere around the globe, and in such a way they come to realise it must not happen again.

For that reason, we must ensure this verse remains an integral part of what we believe: “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”

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Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here