Nicola Richards MP: We owe it to fallen heroes to keep our spirits up
Nicola Richards, the Conservative MP for West Bromwich East, says the country can take strength from our heroes of past conflicts in the battle against coronavirus.
Today we are commemorating 75 years since the end of the Second World War with VE Day, writes Nicola Richards.
After six long years of war, the Allies announced the surrender of the German High Command on 8th May 1945, just a few days after Hitler committed suicide in his Berlin bunker.
Europe’s freedom was finally saved after eleven months of bitter fighting on mainland Europe since the success of the heroic Normandy Landings.
We will always owe an immense debt of gratitude to our soldiers who knew that fighting for democracy, liberty, and our very way of life was ultimately worth it.
VE Day is especially poignant for me as it provides an opportunity to remember the bravery and sacrifice of my own grandfather, Kenneth Richards.
My grandfather fought in the 79th Armoured Division during the war, which was created specifically for the Normandy Landings in June 1944.
Serving as an engineer, his division supported the Allies’ advance through north-western Europe and into Germany itself. My grandfather is an immense source of inspiration for me and I have held a deep interest in his wartime achievements from a young age.
At the age of seven I made a scrapbook of his medals and achievements, showing just how proud I was, and still am, of his service. The spirit and resolve of a true Black Country man shone through on D-Day and beyond.
Turning back to the present day, it’s massively disappointing that so many celebrations to mark this historic anniversary have had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
I know many communities across West Bromwich and the wider West Midlands had special events planned, however, protecting the public’s health is the top priority at present.
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At 11am today, the Royal British Legion are encouraging people to take part in a national moment of reflection in honour of the service and sacrifice of the Second World War generation, coupled with some time to reflect on the devastating impact coronavirus has had on millions of people’s lives across the world.
It’s no coincidence that much of the messaging coming from government strikes a war-like tone.
We want to galvanise this wartime spirit that held us together through one of the darkest chapters of our country’s history.
Under the Prime Minister’s inspirational leadership, we aren’t going to roll over and accept our fate.
Once a vaccine has been created, tested and manufactured en masse, we will be able to take the fight directly to the virus and ultimately kill it off.
Compared to 75 years ago, both our enemy and our heroes on the front line have taken on a different form.
We still have military personnel ensuring essential supplies and equipment reach the front line, however, our real heroes have become those saving lives every single day in the NHS and social care sector.
More than 130 doctors and nurses have died treating coronavirus patients in our hospitals so far during this pandemic. Like those who fell on the Normandy beaches all those years ago, we owe so much to them and we will never forget them.
So this VE day, let’s celebrate the lives of all those brave men and women who fell in the service of our country.
We owe it to them to keep our heads up and not let our spirit fail. There will be days of hardship in the future and we will all have to continue making sacrifices, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. We will overcome.
Let’s reinvigorate the spirit of 1945 and beat this virus together with love, compassion and a sense of community spirit.
We will have our own day of victory over coronavirus soon. Until then, let’s continue to stay at home; save lives and keep our heads up.
