This morning I walked down to the local Polish War Memorial on the A40 West London. There was a there was a small crowd of maybe 20 people, some local community police officers and two local councillors who lay wreaths and read a short dedication.
Afterwards I spent some time reading the names of the fallen on the wall behind the Memorial, as I did so, I thought about why the Memorial was there and why I had come. I am not Polish, I did not serve in the war, though my father did. I do not believe the Polish fought for just Polish or that the English fought for just the English. I believe they thought as we should for each other. I laid my poppy at the foot of Memorial and went home quietly grateful to all who fought so that I might be free. I hope to do the same next year.
