Bridport Remembers 2020

November 11th, Remembrance Day, is the day we remember the brave men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace; specifically, the First and Second World Wars, and all conflicts since then to give us, and others, our freedom.

I have not sacrificed anything for my freedom. It was given to me, by those who came before me and sacrificed so much. So now, it is my responsibility to never forget the service and the sacrifices of those brave men and women who gave their all for us.

They fought and died so I could have the freedom to give this speech. So I could get an education. So I could get a job. So I could live a free life. I am forever in their debt.

In addition I remember the sacrifices of civilians caught up in conflicts;

• The doctors and nurses who tended to the wounded;
• The parents who watched their children fight things that they couldn’t protect them from;
• The children who were too young to understand why their fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters wouldn’t be home for Christmas;
• The teenage boys, who were shipped off to fight before they even got a chance at adulthood;
• The children who had to grow up too soon so they could take care of their families in the middle of the war.

Because they lost so much, and because they gave everything, I thank them.

I will always remember.

Today, as we live here Bridport, in peace and safety, we pay our respects to all of the fallen, all of the wounded and all who served in conflicts.

Today, as we should every day, we remember those who volunteered, sacrificed, served, fought, and died, for our freedom.

Today we are in the midst of a different war against the Covid19 virus, and as a result, sadly we are unable to remember those who made such enormous sacrifices in the way we would otherwise want to.

We will never forget. We will remember.

Please take a few minutes to watch the video below.

It was put together by local musician David Powell who told me:

I wrote the song to illustrate the sacrifice made by so many in two World Wars that led to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The tune is ‘The Battle of the Somme’ written by Scottish Piper William Laurie after the battle. I play it on a melodeon handed down to me from my wife’s grandfather who was gifted it by a German soldier in Paris at the end of WW1.