Lest we forget

Last night we - along with many - watched the event at the Royal Albert Hall which commemorates the lives and sacrifices made by servicemen and women. This year the ceremony seemed more pertinent than ever and - as always - it was done well. 

It's fashionable to question why we send the armed forces into danger areas and, until comparatively recently, the entire event had started to lose its adhesion within the British psyche.  But our involvement in the middle East and other trouble spots throughout the world serves to remind us that the British armed forces still rank as the most highly trained, most professional and most dedicated armed services in the world. Yes - it's their choice to join up and it's their choice to risk life and limb on a daily basis but the British army has a well-earned reputation for selflessness and heroism, although it's unlikely any of the many heroes that frequent their ranks are ever aware of anything other than the loyalty they feel to their fellow soldiers, their unit, their commanders and their country.

Maudlin sentimentality has no place in the occasion, however;  and those who serve would regard it as invasive and unwarranted.  But we should be extremely proud of our services and we should never forget that they do the jobs we need them to do, and would rather not do.  Although our armed services are not the size they once were, their integrity, courage and determination remains undiminished, and we should be aware that we have a duty to ensure the young will never forget what this is all about.