North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has today supported the Royal British Legion in marking the final year of the World War One centenary.
At an event in the National Assembly for Wales, Mr Isherwood said his own ‘thank you’ and urged the public to take part in the movement which aims to thank the entire First World War generation who served, sacrificed and changed our world.
The charity is calling on the nation to honour not only the 1.2 million British and Commonwealth Armed Forces who lost their lives, but also those - military and civilian - who played their part on the home front and those who returned to build a better life for the benefit of generations to come.
During the last 100 days of the centenary from 08 August to 11 November, the Legion is inviting the British public from all cultures and faiths, community groups, schools, companies and sports clubs to join the movement to express their gratitude to those who gave themselves to the war and its aftermath, and rebuilt a better nation from its darkest hour.
The Legion’s Area Manager Wales, Ant Metcalf said: “The First World War left so many legacies that positively impact our lives today, from ground-breaking social change to pioneering innovations. The end of the centenary is a chance for us all to thank not only the British Armed Forces who fought and gave their lives, but the thousands who fought alongside them from countries from across today’s Commonwealth, and the countless men, women and children who played their part on the home front.
“We all have a connection to the First World War and everyone living in Wales today has a reason to say ‘Thank You’ to this special generation. We are grateful to Mark for saying their own special thank you and hope it inspires others across Wales to do the same’
Mr Isherwood said:
“As I grew up, members of the First World War generation were part of our everyday lives. As we thank them for the sacrifices they made, I know that they would also want us to look to the future and ensure that our Armed Forces Community today is able to receive the support that each and every one of them deserves. One hundred years after the end of the First World War, the Armed Forces Covenant is a Covenant which must endure and be upheld across Wales”.
The Legion is asking the nation to plan their ‘Thank You’ activity to take place from the 8th of August onwards, to coincide with the anniversary of the so-called ‘100 days offensive’.
For further information and to find out how you can get involved in the ‘Thank You’ movement, please visit rbl.org.uk/thankyou