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First Sea Lord visits Living Museum

Published Wednesday 6th July 2005

First Sea Lord, Sir Alan West, chatting to veterans at the Living Museum, St James' Park, July 2005

The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West, has paid a visit to the Living Museum in St James's Park. Sir Alan met with a number of veterans, as well as His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent.

He explained the significance of National Commemoration Week:

"I think it's very important for the nation to remember what their veterans have suffered to allow us to live in what is a most wonderful and free country," he said.

"We all have a little gripe about this that and the other, but compare this country with anywhere in the world, and it really is wonderful.

"But we didn’t get that very easily. The people who went through the Second World War, six years of war, it’s mind-boggling to think about it, they really had to suffer, they really had to go through some terrible things."

He also pointed how important it is for the people of Britain to value their freedom:

"By doing what they did, the people of sixty years ago ensured that today we are able to enjoy our freedom. It’s very easy to forget that and we mustn’t forget it, ever.

"We need to pass it on to the youngsters because this generation are dieing out and this is probably one of the last occasions for an awful lot of them when they will be able to come to these sorts of events.

"If we can get that important message across to our youth, that’s important because they will realise not to let anything like that happen again. They will also see what the people had to go through to ensure we are where we are today."

Related articles:

Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War Two

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