There was a huge crowd at the War Memorial in Harpenden on Remembrance Sunday. 

Uniform groups, cadets, the Royal British Legion, Town Council members, MP Bim Afolmi, the Salvation Army, church choirs, ministers, other groups and scores of town people were all there to remember those who died and were injured in the service of their country through the Armed Forces. 

They were remembered by the saying of Christian prayers, singing Christian hymns, the British Legion Act of Remembrance. and the laying of poppy wreathes.

It is significant that in our secular society, people are, on the whole, content to remember by saying prayers.  At present these prayers are Christian. 

It is true that those who serve are men and women of all faiths and none.  One day Remembrance Sunday may be more inter-faith than presently. 

By the saying of prayers we connect with something bigger than ourselves.  Most peoples, nations and tribes have gods and use religious ritual and ceremony to express those things which seem beyond and above the mundane reality of our daily lives. 

Surely the sacrifice of men and women to keep the peace, to stop an evil, to preserve the way of life we treasure is precious and transcendent. 

It is fitting that on a Sunday, we stop and look up to God and say thank you.  It is fitting that we remember that such sacrificial service is something bigger than ourselves.

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