Remembering Conflict

Every year at 11:00 on November 11th, many people working in offices or outdoors step back from their work and pause for a moment of quiet reflection. This tradition, which has continued for more than a century, allows all who participate to remember the human cost of armed conflict and the devastation that war has brought to individuals and families living in countries all around the world.

Each nation has its own way of remembering the sacrifice made by the men and women who have fought or died, and the impact that war has had on communities and family groups. Whatever the political outcome of a conflict, there are never real ‘winners’ in warfare when the wider human cost is assessed and the impact on the individuals and families of those involved most closely in the fighting is taken into account.

The annual act of remembrance on November 11th provides an opportunity for people to join together united, regardless of religion or belief, and to show their respect towards all those who have fought or had their lives changed through war.

I have witnessed first-hand the trauma that armed conflict inflicts, both on those actively involved and their families waiting at home. This trauma could be physical or emotional, and it commonly continues for many years after the fighting has ended, often lasting for a lifetime.

Our quiet moment of remembrance will not erase the traumatic effects of conflict, but we hope that it will help to remind those who have served, or supported them from home, that they are not forgotten. They are remembered with gratitude, dignity, and respect.

As time passes and the generations who experienced these conflicts firsthand grow older, it becomes ever more important to pass on the legacy of remembrance. By standing together in silence, we honour not only their service, but also the common humanity that we share with them, as we renew our own commitment to peace, compassion, and understanding.