Remembrance Sunday always leaves me feeling very proud and very angry in equal measure. Watching the coverage on the BBC was fantastic. David Dimbleby set the tone with a masterclass in how to give a dignified commentary without becoming sentimental.
Its this expertise that makes the BBC a world leader in live television coverage. Great production values along with intelligent commentary make this event heart breaking and makes you remember the true cost of sacrifice.
But the real tragedy of this event is that many of the soldiers who paid the ultimate price, most are inbetween the ages of Eighteen and Twenty One, a criminal waste of a young life, cut down at the start of their lives, so much promise snuffed out in a second, a cruel waste of potential.
I was next to tears watching parents of one particular soldier fighting back the tears as they described with great pride their one and only son. How can you get over something so tragic, it must be a nightmare.
Many of the people in the parade are now elderly and wear the medals with great pride, and quite rightly so. My only hope is that we never get the opportunity to forget these individuals and spare a thought for friends and families who will miss them being in there lives everyday.
So one final thought on this day of reflection, someone said to me once that you should never look back, because you can’t change the past. I would like to add to that, it is only by looking at our past mistakes we learn and progress.
It should be a fairly simple exercise to try and prevent the huge loss of life that any conflict brings. I appreciate that negotiation is not always possible but surely it should be the starting point and not the final destination after thousands of people have died.
John D Eccles 