This Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, with services held across Pendle to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our nation. After last year’s events being scaled back because of Covid-19 I am hoping to see a return to the large turnouts we usually see.
Last weekend I attended an event organised by the Armed Forces Support Group in Barrowford and this week I’ve dropped into the Royal British Legion Poppy Shops in Earby and Barnoldswick. Also, this week I planted a cross in the Parliamentary Garden of Remembrance in London, to remember all of those from Pendle who lost their lives in service to our country. I dedicated Pendle’s cross to Lance Corporal Jordan Bancroft and Lance Corporal Michael Foley, who both lost their lives in Afghanistan, and to all who have served from Pendle.
On Sunday I hope to attend several local Remembrance Services including those taking place in Barnoldswick, Barrowford, Colne, Nelson and Newchurch. I would attend more, if possible, but most take place at the same time. The Council wreath will be laid this year by His Worship the Mayor of Pendle, Councillor Neil Butterworth, who is himself a veteran and has done great work to support veterans living locally.
Remembrance Sunday is a very emotional for many families across Pendle. In addition to those who have died, there are many other men and women living in Pendle carrying the scars, both mental and physical, of their service in Afghanistan, Iraq, Northern Ireland, the Falklands and other military campaigns.
As a politician I am a great believer in always trying to settle disputes with words rather than wars. However sadly in the volatile world in which we live conflict is quite often unavoidable. So wear your poppy with pride, think about all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and join in one of the fifteen Remembrance services across Pendle this Sunday. Whatever you opinion is of wars past or present we should never forget the huge debt of gratitude we owe to our servicemen and women.
