00:00 today, because we come together to recognise and honour those who have made the ultimate
00:04 sacrifice for our country.
00:06 We come together not only to commemorate their bravery and their sacrifice, but also to reflect
00:12 upon the importance of remembering everybody that has fallen in war.
00:18 Wales, like the rest of the United Kingdom, has a rich history of valour and sacrifice
00:22 on the battlefield.
00:23 The stories of Welsh soldiers, sailors and airmen who have served in conflicts around
00:27 the world, are embedded into the fabric of our nation, as they gave their lives so we
00:32 could be here today.
00:34 Like many Members in this Chamber, my family have very strong links with the armed forces.
00:39 My great-grandfather was a submarine captain during World War I, during the very early
00:44 days of underwater warfare—a very, very frightening experience.
00:49 My grandfather served in the Merchant Navy, and I'm very pleased that that has now been
00:53 recognised by the Navy for their service as well.
00:56 He was torpedoed twice by German U-boats and was pulled from the water on both occasions.
01:02 There were many of his friends who were not so lucky to be pulled from the water.
01:06 Also, my other grandfather served in the Royal Artillery, and my father served during the
01:11 Troubles in Northern Ireland.
01:14 None of them talked about, really, what they witnessed or experienced, but I'm very proud
01:19 that my family stood up against fascism and terrorists.
01:24 I am proud to say that I'll be laying a wreath in Brecon on the weekend to remember my family
01:29 and all those people who have served or are serving in our armed forces and what they
01:34 do to keep us safe day in, day out.
01:40 Remembrance in Wales is not merely a yearly ritual, but it's a profound expression of
01:44 our gratitude and respect for those who have served.
01:47 Our history is scattered with countless acts of bravery and selflessness, whether it's
01:51 on the fields of Flanders, the beaches of Normandy, the mountains in Afghanistan, or
01:56 in many other conflicts around the world.
01:59 We remember those who fought and fell, the wounded, the prisoners of war, and those who
02:04 bear the physical and emotional scars of conflict.
02:08 Their sacrifice serves as a stark reminder of the human costs of war, and that is why
02:14 we must do all we can to support our veteran community.
02:17 I know the chairman of our cross-party group on the armed forces has a clear vision that
02:22 we have on that group to support our veteran community across Wales.
02:27 Remembrance is also embedded into all our communities.
02:30 We have war memorials in our towns and villages right across Wales, our committed poppy sellers
02:35 who go out to raise money for the Royal British Legion, and our schools play a very important
02:40 role of teaching the history of the sacrifices made by those of our previous generation,
02:45 because we must teach our future generations of what has happened before so we can never
02:50 experience the horrors of what happened.
02:53 We must never forget that the freedoms we enjoy today were secured through the blood,
02:58 sweat, and tears of those who come before us, and it is our duty to ensure those sacrifices
03:05 that they gave are never in vain.
03:09 Remembrance is not a duty.
03:11 It's a responsibility.
03:13 It's a responsibility to pass on the stories of bravery and sacrifice to the next generation.
03:20 So let us remember the fallen with gratitude, the living with support, and the future with
03:25 hope that we can live in a world without war and conflict.
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