November's Reflection from the Moderator
In the past, everyone wore the same simple poppy for Remembrance, produced at Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh. Today, the variety is much greater—brooches, pins, knitted and sewn poppies are common.
Communities unite to create poppy installations, inspired by displays like the sea of poppies around the Tower of London in 2014. This mix of individual expression and collective remembrance highlights how we each remember in our own way while acknowledging the shared impact of loss.
Address at the National War Memorial
Earlier this year, I had the honor of speaking at the annual service held at the National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle. Here is an excerpt from my speech:
"This Scottish National War Memorial, erected after the First World War, reminds us that it was everybody's war. The books of names beneath the regimental memorials around us represent not just lives sacrificed but parents who lost a child, brothers and sisters who lost a sibling, husbands, wives and sweethearts who lost a partner and a future together, children who lost a parent, and friends who were not reunited. It's bigger – it's communities and workplaces missing a generation. The names recorded are just the tip of the iceberg."
Honoring Collective Memory
This memorial symbolizes more than individual loss; it reflects the profound effect on entire communities and generations, emphasizing the deep scars left by war.
Author's summary: The evolving ways we remember conflicts show both personal grief and community solidarity, with memorials highlighting the vast, shared impact of lost lives.