Waiting on the Flypast to Celebrate the 100th Birthday today by the Royal Air Force, at the top of the Air Forces Memorial at Cooper’s Hill Lane in Englefield Green.
Churchill’s wartime speech where he said – “Never was so much owed by so many to so few” came to mind.
The Sun was shining and the hundreds of people young and old, who had turned up to watch the spectacle were in a happy but respectful mood.
If you have never heard of it or had the opportunity to visit, the Memorial overlooks the Thames on Cooper’s Hill in Runnymede, Surrey. It is known to most as the Air Forces Memorial.
It was opened to commemorates more than 20,000 airmen and women who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe who have no known grave.
It is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), and is a beautiful, peaceful if poignant place to visit.
Every person today who takes their freedom for granted, would do well to visit one of the many sites across Europe such as the Air Forces Memorial, to be reminded how lucky we are and how much we owe to others.
It is shocking to see list after list of the names, ages and countries of those who did not come back. From Ireland, Canada, Australia, Poland, USA, India, to name but a few.
So when I stood there today in the Sunshine surrounded by people of many nations, waiting on the Flypast to celebrate the RAF’s 100th Birthday.
I could not stop thinking of all the Men and Women barely more than children, who went to fight for freedom and who did not return.
So from everyone here at PAIRFUM London “Thank You”.
