Armistice Day honoured the memory of the millions of men and
women who gave their lives in the Great War of 1914-18.
Almost a million across the country.
More than 10,000 in Wiltshire.
Last week was dedicated to acts of remembrance across the
county and the country. I was honoured to be invited to attend the moving and
emotional projection of falling poppies at Salisbury Cathedral on Thursday
evening and attend Remembrance services at both Imber village and Salisbury on
Sunday (11 November).
On Sunday evening I joined the local community at
Westbury. Like many other communities across the country they gathered to light
a beacon as part of the thousand points of light illuminating the awesome
sacrifice of those years.
The flame was bright but not as bright as the courage,
self-sacrifice and fortitude of those who gave up their lives in France,
Flanders and further afield. In Wiltshire the 10,000 men and women are named on
the Wall of Remembrance, which has been throughout the county for the past four
years, and is currently proudly displayed at County Hall.
Each cross on the wall is in memory of those who gave their
lives for us. In their names, across the county, communities are planting
10,000 trees as a living tribute to them – a legacy to the fallen.
We, their grateful descendants, owe our freedom and our own
lives to their service and sacrifice.
We are among the few counties without a Thankful Village,
the name given to those rare communities which did not endure a single
fatality.
Every hamlet, village and town in Wiltshire lost sons and
daughters in the conflict.
Grief came to every corner, no matter how remote.
Yet today, every village and town in the county is thankful.
Thankful for the selfless devotion of our brave ancestors.
Next year we will host National Armed Forces Day in
Salisbury and it will be a fitting tribute and thank you to the military
personnel and emergency services who protect and keep us safe - particularly
this year in Salisbury and Amesbury.
More than ever we will show our gratitude.
We owe them so much.
We will recognise and remember them.
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