80 years ago today or one that may be deeply personal to you and your family.
At such times the RBL encourages communities and individuals to find their own way of engaging in Remembrance and through their membership of the RBL many find comradery and friendship to lean on when required.
Many choose to visit our National Memorial Arboretum which now provides a home to over 350 memorials for both military and civilian groups. Others may go on a pilgrimage, wear a poppy, create a quiet place for reflection or even have a tattoo as a permanent reminder.
For those of us who feel a deep personal connection to those serving in the Armed Forces, Remembrance can represent loyalty, attachment, pride, loss and the upholding of tradition.
Being in the company of Veterans such as Bill Johnston and military personnel at a commemorative event can feel like a privilege and a honour that reminds us of the close bonds between service personnel who live, train and fight together, a deep sense of togetherness is part of the military culture.
In this context, remembrance is an opportunity to pause and reflect, giving thanks and honoring the memory of all those who gave their lives to defend our democratic freedoms. Remembering others in this way doesn't glorify conflict, instead it aims to unite people across faiths, cultures and backgrounds.
As we pass the mantle of Remembrance from this generation to the next, we should embrace the enthusiasm and interest shown by children. All of us who deliver poppies to schools in October, are familiar with the excited squeals of POPPIES as we cross the playing ground, but less obvious is the amazing work that our primary schools and cadet organizations do in teaching remembrance and in supporting our military communities, so it is great to see so many of you here today and hopefully we can support you, as you take the memories onwards.