Rother Valley MP proud of area's tributes and respect for war heroes

It is a solemn and respectful occasion which carries its own special resonance for each person.

For me, remembrance is wearing a poppy and listening to the haunting strains of the Last Post on the bugle.

It is visiting our local war memorial to lay a wreath and attending church services to pay our respects, hearing the seemingly never-ending list of the fallen.

It is the two- minute silence on Remembrance Day and watching surviving veterans honour their brothers-in- arms.

It is reading the moving poems of Binyon, McCrae, Owen, Brooke, and Sassoon and reflecting on bold inscriptions to ‘the glorious dead’ which proclaim ‘lest we forget’ and ‘their name liveth for evermore’.

It is a time to remember the contribution of our own grandfathers and great-grandfathers but also of every serviceman who is serving or has recently served.

Remembrance is both a deeply personal yet also a national ritual.

We are painfully aware that remembrance has been difficult this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

We have had to change the way we remember our war dead and have altered our celebrations of important national dates.

This year marked the 75th anniversary of victory in Europe and of victory over Japan, glorious accomplishments for the United Kingdom and her territories.

I am proud of Rother Valley’s efforts to pay tribute to our servicemen whilst remaining Covid-secure.

As covered in my May column, there were wonderful celebrations in Harthill, Thurcroft, Todwick, Maltby, Wickersley, and Wales alongside private ‘stay at home’ events across the constituency.

In the same vein, this month we had the rather more sombre Remembrance Day commemorations – particularly poignant as it marked 100 years since the burial of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey.

Yet again, the patriotic people of Rother Valley saw to it that those who made the ultimate sacrifice would not be forgotten.

It was my great honour to lay a wreath at Remembrance Sunday ceremonies in Dinnington and Thurcroft, and I made sure that I visited memorials across the constituency in order to lay wreaths (with my baby daughter in tow).

I undertook private acts of remembrance in Wales, Maltby, Harthill, Todwick and more of our villages, and the whole constituency was in my thoughts and prayers at this time.

I understand that local children were busy painting ‘remembrance stones’ – a wonderful way to memorialise the bravery of their forefathers.

Even in difficult periods such as these, we must always remember the men who fought and died to defend the freedom we enjoy today.

Our region has a rich history of military service: thousands upon thousands of men from South Yorkshire have died whilst serving their country over the past century.

We must also work to support the 18,845 veterans who live in South Yorkshire today, so that they can live happy and successful lives.

So many men and women made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can be free.

We will remember them.

Alexander Stafford is MP for Rother Valley.