Let us always remember and be grateful

A few years ago, I went to the Runnymede War Memorial with my Dad. He was a bomber pilot who flew 39 operations with 10 Squadron during 1943-44. He was shot down on his 39th operation flying to Brunswick and spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft 3. On the memorial walls in Runnymede there are the names of 20,000 airmen who lost their lives during World War 2 and have no known grave. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, "Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:

"IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE"

My Dad pointed out to me some of the names of men he had flown with. I allowed him some space to look for the names of colleagues and friends of his who had been lost. After some time, he came up to me and simply said “Too many friends Keith, let’s go.” His eyes were filled with tears.

Bomber Command suffered the heaviest casualties of any British unit in the Second World War, with nearly half its men lost. As we drove back to my house my Dad was

deep in thought and I remembered a conversation I once had previously with him. During that conversation I asked him about his wartime experiences as a pilot and in prisoner of war camp.

I remember him saying; “We knew we were fighting evil and we were fighting for the freedom of our families, friends and country.” Few would dispute that the Nazi regime was indeed one of evil, especially when you read about the death camps, concentration camps and many other atrocities.

Each Remembrance Sunday I think about my Dad and many like him who made so many sacrifices so that we may enjoy the freedom we have today. On that day in services across this country the contribution of all the British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts will be commemorated and we have the opportunity to give thanks for each of these men and women.

We can also give thanks and remember another one who sacrificed His life so that we might enjoy even greater freedom, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that Jesus loves us and gave His life for each of us (Galatians 2:20) so that we might enjoy a freedom from death and guilt, (Romans 6:23) from slavery and addiction (John 8:34,36) and from fear (Hebrews 2:14-15).

Jesus sets us free to know God (Isaiah 59:2), to live a life of love - for God and for others (1 John 4:19) and to experience change and transformation so that we can live the abundant lives He intended for us to enjoy and experience! (Galatians 5:22)

Let me encourage you to remember and give thanks for all who sacrificed so much and this month when you pray to spend time giving thanks to Jesus for the freedom, He has won for us

Keith Saynor
November 1st 2024