Thought For The Day – Monday 11^th November 2024

Today, on this Armistice Day, on the 11^th day, of the 11^th month, at the 11^th hour, we remember.

We remember in and on every hour, day, month and year.

We remember those who have sacrificed, served and suffered in conflict and war past and present, both locally, nationally and internationally.

We remember all who live with emotional, mental and physical challenges and trauma.

We remember those who were, and are, upstanders for goodness, love and truth.

We remember the emergency, first aid and first response services and all who professionally run towards danger to keep others safe.

We remember the victims of terrorism.

We remember the intelligence services.

We remember all who work for, and maintain, harmony, peace, security and wellbeing.

We remember all those invisible children, students and invisible adults who never got the chance to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy today.

We remember those who did not come home, and their families.

For our tomorrow, they gave their today.  And for our today, they gave their tomorrow.

We remember those in our lives in our families who are no longer with us in this life but who continue to inspire us from Heaven.

We remember the bereaved and those who mourn.  May they know their loved ones will always love and inspire.

We are only here today because our relatives survived.

We remember equality, diversity and inclusion. We stand against negative prejudice and discrimination.  We remember all ages, races, sexes and genders who sacrifice, suffer and serve. Over 15,000 people from the Caribbean served in the First World War. A quarter of those who served in Afghanistan were women.

God bless all.

Generations, young and old, represented today at the school, will always remember and we will never, ever forget.

For our thank you will never, ever be enough.  Our gratitude is endless.

“At the going down of the sun. And in the morning. We will remember them”, wrote Laurence Binyon.

To remember at this time we choose to wear a physical poppy.

This is a small act from us that is the most miniscule of grains of sand compared to the endless and eternal beach of their commitment beyond words.  It is the least we can choose to do.

And we will always wear a poppy in our hearts.

The poppy is the symbol of remembrance, of equality, diversity, inclusion, hope and love.

The beautiful poppy grew on Flanders Fields in Belgium and in Northern France in and after the First World War.

Shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, Belgium,  in the First World War, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae,  a Canadian doctor, was very moved by the sight of these beautiful poppies.

This profound experience led him to write the iconic poem “In Flanders Fields”. It would inspire The Poppy Appeal, first started 103 years ago.

Today, at The Bishop’s Stortford High School, we remember.

As was the case yesterday, Remembrance Sunday, people will remember locally at the Bishop’s Stortford War Memorial (where the school will be represented by Isaac Jones, Fiore Akinde, Oliver Berry and Mrs. Miles), nationally and internationally.

With each year and day, as survivors pass on to another life on a Heavenly shore, their love and inspiration to always continue, anniversaries of conflicts are movingly and poignantly remembered.

This year, in particular, people have been remembering 80 years since some of the fiercest and most horrific fighting in pivotal, and global, moments of the Second World War against Nazi evil: in Italy, particularly at Monte Cassino; in India, particularly at Imphal and Kohima; in the Netherlands, particularly with “Operation Market Garden”;  and, of course, on the beaches of Normandy in France, and beyond, on “D-Day”.

We must also importantly remember that 2024 also marks ten years since the end of the U.K.’s military operations in Afghanistan. 457 British servicemen and servicewomen were killed in Afghanistan. Many more were injured mentally and physically.

On this autumnal day too: “It is impossible to forget the wars in the Middle East, in Ukraine and In Sudan. Millions of families in distress as war rages around them.”  (David Dimbleby, “Remembrance Sunday: The Cenotaph” commentary, “BBC One”, 10^th November 2024).

So, today at The Bishop’s Stortford High School, we remember.

As we always will.

Period 2 will close at 10:20. After break, at 10:40, students will register in form groups and respectfully process to the Multi Use Games Area where students will line up in year and then form groups in alphabetical order for our service, led by Mr. Reeve and the Music Department, with a two-minute silence.

This morning, the school will respectfully come together as one: to pause; to reflect; to remember;  to say thank you.

 “We will remember them.”