It was so strange watching the Festival of Remembrance from a virtually empty Albert Hall last night.
This will be a very strange Remembrance Sunday. Most of the usual services have been cancelled.
I normally buy my poppies in the supermarket, but as they are out of bounds at the moment for me, and I’m sure for many of you, here is the link to the Royal British Legion’s poppy appeal in case you want to make a donation to support the work that the Legion does to support veterans and their families.
I took this photo at the Tower of London in November 2014. Between July and November 888,246 filled the grounds gradually, one for each British soldier who died during the First World War.
Here is Ed Davey’s message for Remembrance Sunday
Today, as we remember and honour those who have lost their lives in our Armed Forces, let's commit ourselves to work harder for peace in our world. pic.twitter.com/HrfAHJOgOW
— Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) November 8, 2020
Round the country other senior Liberal Democrats have made their own reflections:
Remembrance Sunday is always a poignant event and this year, many of us will have sadly been reminded of the fragile nature of life.
It is right that we pause and remember those who have served in our Armed Forces and given their lives defending our country.#LestWeForget pic.twitter.com/0bqdGpEaiF
— Jane Dodds AS/MS 🔶🏴 (@DoddsJane) November 8, 2020
"Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds."Lest we forget. pic.twitter.com/MuQPI5VPi0
— Wendy Chamberlain MP (@wendychambLD) November 8, 2020
#RemembranceSunday is so very different this year. Sad for my WW2 veteran Grandad who‘ll miss the services; & struck by the military nurse, at the Festival of Remembrance, who said she’ll remember friends she lost both in Afghanistan & on NHS front-line this year #LestWeForget
— Daisy Cooper MP 🔶 (@libdemdaisy) November 8, 2020
A Remembrance Sunday perhaps more poignant than ever as Rosie and I lay wreathes in Kendal, Grange and Windermere. As always I keep in mind my Grandma’s little brother, Uncle Maurice, killed at 19 in 1940. We owe those who died, our deep gratitude and our resolve to build peace. pic.twitter.com/HV5mbGUYWK
— Tim Farron (@timfarron) November 8, 2020
It’s days like this I really miss the sense of community and being with other people and giving thanks to our veterans.
Today confined to a quiet act of remembrance with my family at D’Mains war memorial.
‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.’ pic.twitter.com/ByF5QkI6ED
— Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP🔶🇺🇦 (@agcolehamilton) November 8, 2020
Heartening to see so many people keen to pay their respects on Remembrance Sunday as I laid wreaths at memorials in Edinburgh West pic.twitter.com/e3iaLO71Gf
— Christine Jardine 🔶 (@cajardineMP) November 8, 2020
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness
To the end, to the end, they remain. #RemembranceSunday pic.twitter.com/7HK8GEqD5Q— Willie Rennie (@willie_rennie) November 8, 2020
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
One Comment
My thoughts on this day are always dominated by the loss, many years ago, of a good schoolfriend killed whilst serving with the army in Northern Ireland.
Since the Good Friday Agreement I had real hope that his loss was not in vain.
All that changed 4 years ago with the referendum and then Trump.
Now I have a degree of hope, not blind hope, that at least there will be someone in the White House who will work to make that loss, and all the other casualties, not a complete waste of human life.