Our duty to remember and respect the war generation – The Yorkshire Post says

But his galvanising words, pointing to a need for perseverance, can also be applied to today’s struggle with Covid-19 as the country falls silent tomorrow to honour those who gave their lives in two World Wars, and more recent conflicts, in the name of freedom.

And they remind us, 80 years after the Battle of Britain helped to maintain this country’s liberty, about the need for national unity if the contemporary foe – Covid – is to be overcome as this period of remembrance and reflection is also used to acknowledge those who have succumbed to the virus and mark the relentless work of the NHS.

It is, of course, regrettable that Covid protocols, and a new lockdown, mean official services are being scaled back to such an extent – veterans, for example, will not be allowed to march past the Cenotaph in Whitehall on the 100th anniversary of its unveiling to pay their respects, as they have always done with such diligence and duty, to fallen comrades and ancestors.
As such, individual acts of remembrance on doorsteps will have added significance and resonance – let’s hope the rainbows of hope placed in windows during the first lockdown can be superseded by evocative paintings of poppies to honour the selfless example of the ‘greatest generation’.
They saw it as their duty to always remember the fallen, help the less fortunate and support local communities – simple acts of humanity, and respect, that matter so much now. For, if they’re faithfully followed, it will serve to reassure the diminishing number of Second World War veterans that their sacrifices, and Churchill’s example, will define Britain at all times.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click here to subscribe.