South Kesteven District Council opposition leader and Grantham Councillor Graham Jeal reflects on a quietly dignified act of Remembrance attended by political adversaries shoulder to shoulder
I have just returned from a simple, yet memorable ceremony in a quiet, well maintained corner of a cemetery in Grantham, writes Graham Jeal, leader of the South Kesteven Coalition Group on South Kesteven District Council.
A group of civic representatives including the Mayor of Grantham, the Chair of South Kesteven District Council, councillors and other members of the community joined me and others to stand in the rain in silence in front of a memorial to those lost by enemy action.
It was a thoroughly British, quietly dignified act of remembrance. Political adversaries often caught up in the minutiae of local governance or who go on about bins uncollected or litter on the A1, stood shoulder to shoulder in reflection. We united in honouring the memory of those lost in the crucible of conflict and the unwavering dedication of our past and present armed forces, safeguarding the very essence of our way of life.
We are reminded at this time of year not only of those that dedicated themselves to our country in our armed forces, but those such as my great grandfather that made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and their families left grieving. For the bereaved families they left behind, Remembrance Day is a day of mourning, a sombre acknowledgment of their immeasurable loss. In our collective solidarity, we recognise and pay homage to their tremendous sacrifice.
In my career, I have been lucky enough to travel all over the world engaging individuals from very different countries. I have always encountered profound respect for the United Kingdom. The more of the world I have experienced the more I have realised that it is not because of our freedoms that people respect our country. In fact in many countries – the UK is respected in spite of the freedoms of expression we enjoy. Our nation's esteem is rooted in the formidable international reputation of our armed forces. An honourable legacy painstakingly constructed by many thousands of veterans over centuries in many parts of the world on many operations.
I am pleased that our council, through a significant and enduring commitment to making the Armed Forces covenant a reality, is taking a leadership role in recognising this contribution to our country. The Armed Forces Covenant exists to ensure that the armed forces community are not put at any disadvantage because of their service to our country and includes duties around housing, healthcare, and education. Through reliefs and support, we are working to support this important part of our community.
International events remind us of the important role that districts like South Kesteven play in shaping how our armed forces community are valued and by direct extension Britain’s place in the World. Assuming I didn’t catch a cold today in the rain, I will be joining hundreds of others on Sunday in a county where the honour and integrity of our armed forces runs deep.