This month holds a deeply important place in our calendar, as we mark Remembrance Day and Armistice Day, and pay tribute to those who have served our country with courage and sacrifice.
As we pause to reflect, we are reminded of the extraordinary dedication of our veterans and serving members of the armed forces, the powerful stories of their service, and the debt of gratitude that we owe them.
In recent weeks, I had the privilege of visiting our local veterans’ hub, where I heard first-hand stories from local veterans. My visit highlighted to me not just the importance of the veteran hub, providing a place to anyone who served, or is serving, in the armed forces, to meet, chat and share experiences – but also that we must do more to support our serving armed forces and our veterans. After all, no veteran should face hardship or homelessness.
READ MORE: Remembrance Day 2024: 33 photos from the Basingstoke event
I also met with our local Royal British Legion (RBL) Poppy Appeal volunteers who have been in our town centre for the last few weeks. Talking to these volunteers, I learned more about the personal connections that inspire them to dedicate their time each year to this vital cause. They, too, embody the RBL’s Remembrance theme of ‘Service, not Self.’
Then, on Remembrance Sunday, I was honoured to join residents, councillors, schools, community groups, and veterans at Basingstoke’s war memorial where I read the poem Remembrance by Charles Henrywood.
A line from that particularly stood out to me, particularly important in the present moment, “Where war divides and greed and dogma drive. Help us to learn the lessons from the past”.
Over the last decade, geopolitical tensions have risen, meanwhile our armed services have been hollowed out. The government is currently conducting a Strategic Defence Review which will help us to set out the path to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence, in partnership with our armed forces and the wider defence sector to bolster our armed forces and protect our country for the long term.
As we reflect this month, we must renew our commitment to supporting those who have served, those serving in the armed forces today and their families. We honour their legacy by upholding the values they have fought to protect; taking heed in the lesson they teach us about service to others, over ourselves.
To get in touch with the Basingtoke Veterans Hub, or to find out more information, you can email basingstokeveteranshub@gmail.com or find them on Facebook: Basingstoke Veterans' Hub.
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