As we remember dead, let’s not forget the living

The 11th of November 2018 marked exactly 100 years since the Great War ended.

There is, as a result, a particular poignancy as we joined this year’s Remembrance Day. Many of us had relatives whom we lost in wars.

Not only the massive turmoil of both World Wars, but in the Falklands, in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Some of us want to discuss that, while others prefer to keep it private. There is no right or wrong way to manage grief and hurt.

The two World Wars took almost 170,000 Scottish lives between them.

The current population of the whole of Hamilton is around 58,000 so we have lost the equivalent of nearly three times our town. Remembrance is painful. Thinking of those young boys, some as young as 16, who died within minutes or hours of ‘going over the top’ is a heart-breaking history, but it is one we need to understand.

Our children need to understand it too.

Together, we can seek hard to avoid anything like these events ever happening again.

Jointly, we could also pay respect to those who went into brutal wars on our behalf.

There were, in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, a series of commemorative events over the days around the 11th day at the 11th hour of the 11th month, all of them bringing the recognition and the ongoing respect for those people who went to fight in order to protect the liberty and the freedoms of a genuinely democratic society.

On Sunday, November 4, at the Town House in Hamilton, the Festival of Remembrance brought together forces personnel communities, religious leaders, schools, musicians and politicians from across North and South Lanarkshire in this special event to mark the end of World War One.

The first half included dramatic and musical performances from Lanarkshire schools, followed by a formal service of remembrance in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant.

The service featured the band of the Salvation Army.

It was a great community effort and I salute all who participated.

On Sunday, November 11, I first visited the memorial service in Stonehouse, then we joined together at the cenotaph on Bothwell Road, Hamilton, for the remembrance service there.

During the day, at St John’s, the atmosphere created by the British Legion’s ‘silent silhouettes’ created an extraordinary atmosphere of past meeting present.

The Legion invited the public to take part in a movement to say ‘thank you’ to the First World War generation who served, sacrificed, rebuilt and changed the nation.

The silhouettes were near life-size projections of iconic war images such as the image of a “Tommy” (our original Silent Soldier).

There were equally significant representatives of the members of the communities the Scottish nation says thank you to, including those who gave medical support, soldiers from across the commonwealth, RAF/RFC, Navy, munition factory workers and suffragettes who lead the fight for votes for women.

They all helped makes us the nation we are today.

We remember all who have died in conflict in the last 100 years, and we take care of those still living who are enduring the impact of horror of violence on the field.

We are learning more and more every day about PTSD.

Its impact can be devastating but services are improving all the time.

The Scottish Government’s Veterans Minister, Graeme Dey MSP, is seeking to improve the situation for veterans suffering from PTSD and a whole range of other issues such as finding employment, housing, building relationships and establishing themselves in Civvy Street. Remember the dead. Don’t forget about the living.