Given a voice

Over the last couple of days, either side of the Channel, we have been commemorating the bravery and sacrifice of thousands of young soldiers during the D Day campaign of June 1944. Although world leaders have attended and made speeches it’s the voices of the survivors, or the written words of those who took part, that have meant so much. 

Voices from the past are precious and we are richer for hearing them.

There can be no doubt that those who have been blessed with life after D Day are full of gratitude for these years and immensely conscious of their mates for whom such a future was so cruelly denied because of the tragedy of war.

Whilst watching some of the coverage my mind went back to a conversation I once had with a much respected member of AFC, a lady who died a fortnight ago.  She lived with such open-hearted principles and rose to become a Head Teacher.  On one occasion when we ate together at a Tuesday LunchBreak, she told me how, in her young adult years, she had gone over to Europe every summer on camps specifically designed to rebuild a fractured continent, both emotionally and physically.  She spoke with such conviction of the place those camps still had in her heart.  Not only had she enjoyed being able to help with the physical rebuilding of Europe, she had also relished the opportunity to work alongside young people her own age from every country – on either side – who were now building friendships across the divide and establishing a different future.

This week I give thanks for all who gave their lives for our freedom and for all who have worked so hard to make the most of these years of freedom since 1945. This, so called, Silent Generation, have been given a voice this week, and we are profoundly grateful for their words.