We should never forget
After a busy week in parliament, it was wonderful to return to Paisley and mark Armistice Sunday in our town.
I think it is vitally important that we honour all the men and women who gave their lives in service, and this year even more so.
While the media is often dominated by politics, sporting events and celebrity gossip, this year it is imperative that we commemorate the 100-year anniversary of World War 1.
Events to mark the centenary took place this weekend, with services, poppy displays and national silence remembering those who did not return from the battlefields of Europe.
Stacey and I attended the service at the cenotaph on Sunday morning and it was brilliant to see such a great turnout.
It’s easy to get caught up in the here and now and the daily dramas of life, so it is important that we continue to remember the sacrifices members of the Armed Forces have made for us and continue to make every day.
It is up to us to make sure the younger generations are aware of what has gone before them and help them learn from the past – especially in this post-Brexit world where international cooperation and friendship often seems like an impossible task.
Sharing stories and passing tales from generation to generation is how we keep the past alive and prepare for the future.