At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, when the guns of the Great War at last fell silent, the discord was replaced by a deafening silence. In that moment between the sounds of loss and the cries of relief, society was starkly presented with the reality of what had just occurred; all that had been lost, all that had been sacrificed, those that were never to be seen again.
Fittingly, the values of those heroic soldiers that fought for our freedom endure to this present day. Furthermore, the lexicon of war and military references now shape our everyday approach not least in these unprecedented times where, throughout the world, people are saving lives in the ‘fight’ against the “invisible, and not so invisible enemies” of a pandemic and global warming. We are not pitted against each other in managing these threats; we have a common to survive and work collaboratively to build a better place for our children to thrive.
We are all people of peace. We are unshaken in resolve to overcome adversity; grateful in remembrance of those who have sacrificed their lives on the various battlefields who by their efforts allow us to enjoy the experience of freedom while we continuingly search, and support, efforts for peace and collective responsibility for a safer world.
The Remembrance Service provided a moment of reflection for those cherished moments of happiness with the people we have lost.
Dr Edmonds