As part of our Remembrance Day programme Gerry Manolas Chair of MAFCSV and Nick Southward OBE, attended the Fields of Remembrance Opening Service today at Westminster Abbey. We joined Defence Attaché Brigadier General Vratislav Beran, Warrant Officer Tomas Kaspar and the Slovak Defence Attaché Colonel Vladimir Stolarik and his wife Maria.
The event was opened by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, and the service was led by The Dean of Westminster Abbey, The Very Reverend David Hoyle.
As with all remembrance services the Last Post was extremely moving and was played by a Bugler from the Band of the Scots Guard from the heights of the Abbey.
The highlight for me was having the opportunity to talk with a WWII veteran from Poland who was 15 when he signed up to join the Polish 1st Regiment in Russia. When you hear their recollections, you know the memories of that time are still as clear as if it were yesterday. What these men and women experienced during that time is unimaginable to us but we need to ensure the young of today understand what they went through.
I would also like to thank Bob Gamble OBE and his team at the Royal British Legion for organising not just this event, but the Cenotaph Parade on Sunday and the Remembrance Service at the Albert Hall. It is through their hard work and dedication that these events are so successful. It shows the world how we commemorate the sacrifices our servicemen and women made, in order that we can enjoy the freedom and peace we so often take for granted.
