One year on….

Guess what I was doing a year ago today…. election night

Remembering and appreciating

Ever since I was ten i’ve come to appreciate the importance and significance of Remembrance Sunday. Back then I was parading around in the cold as a little Sea Scout in Walsall Town Centre wondering what was going on at the front but knowing that it was important. Today I had the honour of placing the wreath on the War Memorial in Walsall Wood on behalf of the people of Walsall.

I was delighted to see so many young people there. Scouts, guides, brownies, girls and boys brigades. It is important that like myself 14 years ago – they too understand why the 11th November is so important. Never has so many owed so much to so few for they gave their tomorrow for our today. We are allowed to have a democracy, freedom of speech, worship and the individual – because people laid their lives down to protect these values. For that we are eternally grateful.

One beautiful moment from today. As we stood at Aldridge War Memorial – under the dark cloudy skys – just as we starting saying “Our Father who art in heaven..” – the sun burst through the clouds and lit up the Cenotaph. That speaks for itself.