MIKE HILL: Honour our veterans and also care for them all year round

The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, said: “It was more important than ever to commemorate the heroes of the First World War especially after so many national events on Remembrance Sunday were either scaled back or cancelled because of COVID 19 restrictions” - and he was right.

With many veterans on the streets and still without the care and support they deserve, unfortunately some MPs need reminding of our obligations to those who have served their country.

This year, because of lockdown and COVID, the usual ceremonies at Stranton Cemetery on the Saturday and the Headland and the Cenotaph on the Sunday, had to be officially cancelled by the council.

Whilst I fully understand that decision, especially as the Prime Minister’s message that socially distanced ceremonies could happen came far too late to officially get things organised, I also appreciate the veterans’ organisations desire to parade and who did parade in a safe and dignified way with the appropriate social distancing.

For my part, it was an honour to lay a wreath both on the Headland and the Cenotaph on Saturday with the Leader of the Council, Shane Moore, and to join volunteers in planting crosses in front of the Cenotaph representing each and every Hartlepool military life lost in the two world wars; a most humbling experience and also horrific given the sheer numbers.

It’s 75 years since the end of the Second World War and just over 100 years in the case of the First World War.

But it’s just 38 years since the Falklands War, 22 years since the signing of The Good Friday Agreement, ending hostilities in Northern Ireland, and nine years since the end of the Iraq War.

Every conflict costs military and civilian lives.

In every generation there are those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the nation and it’s right and proper that at this time of year we remember them, and honour and look after our veterans all year round.