For the last 200 years of recorded history, many of my ancestors were soldiers:
Three attended Waterloo.
We lost five in WW1.
Eight showed up for WW2 in various capacities.
A lot of holding the line, keeping the peace, saving lives; doing the difficult things. Just one amongst many, no heroes.
My father, both grandfathers and many, many relations from remote highland crofts to the ghettos of London and ending with me.
I was the last - times change.
On my father's desk, wherever we were posted, he always had this epithet facing the seats in front of him:
"God and the soldier we adore, in times of trouble and not before,
But danger past and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted."
It holds two truths for me:
- The only valid purpose of war is Peace
- Those who form our shieldwall against harm must be cherished.
Yesterday, June 6th, was a reminder of the price of freedom; the price of the opportunity to openly pursue your passion and voice your dissent.
For many, that price is still being paid today. Let us not remember them too late.
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