I will.
When I was taught about remembrance sunday at school,”lest we forget” was emphasised as a warning.
Thank you Mr Kerr(junior school headmaster).

[video]https://youtu.be/E7ykb1geOoU[/video]

I feel a bit conflicted about the whole thing. I don’t like the way it’s heading, going down the same road that led to competitive grieving and all that. While I accept that sometimes war is necessary, I have no respect for politicians or other leaders that send people to war unnecessarily – although I’m not a good enough historian to say what’s the former and what’s the latter. But I respect the courage of people who are prepared to go and do the dirty work knowing what could happen to them, even if I question the motives and morals of those that send them. I will remember my grandfather, a man who I suspect was wholly unsuited to going to war and killing people (I don’t know if he ever did so himself), but who was willing to go and do his duty, who stood next to his childhood best friend and saw his head get blown off, and who could barely speak about the war. War is not something to celebrate, but courage, bravery and sacrifice are. The guy in that video above points out that the initial point of rememberance was to remember ‘Never Again’. It’s a shame so many people in power have apparently forgotten that.

Like others here, I too am a soldier and I will attend a service tomorrow. Personally, I will reflect on my grandfathers and their brothers who fought in the First and Second world wars. I will remember my father who, as an 18 year old National Serviceman, found himself fighting in Egypt for reasons unknown to him and who, to this day, will not talk about what he saw. I will also remember my friends and their friends who have died or been terribly injured in conflict. I will remember the soldiers of the regiments in which I have served who have died or been injured.

As above, war is not something to celebrate, but courage, bravery and sacrifice are, and I see it in spades in the ordinary young men and women with whom I proudly serve. For what it is worth, I see these qualities in equal measure in the emergency services and it is right that their efforts and sacrifices should be remembered too.

The poppy I wear tomorrow will be red in support of the RBL, not as any political statement, but in support of a charity which does wonderful work for veterans and their families. Whilst I respect the decision of those who choose not to wear a poppy or take part in remembrance due to the perceived commercialisation or politicisation, I hope that their decision does not prevent them from acknowledging the sacrifice of others.

Certa Cito.

This is my 22nd Remembrance Sunday in uniform. I have met veterans of wars before my time, listened to their stories and felt their tears. I’ve walked through the CWGC cemeteries and read the names of those who fell, noted the youth and number we lost in godforsaken trenches.

In my time I have carried one friend on my shoulder, been part of a flypast for another and stood among friends for a thirds repatriation.

I have attended numerous ramp ceremonies and vigils for various nations whilst deployed, every single one had an impact, listening to their friends and colleagues talk fondly of their lost brother or sister.

I’ve even climbed a mountain looking for the final resting place of a WW2 Bomber crew.

For me, this day is for all of them and no amount of debate or pseudo-political interference will change that.