Italy Star Association Lunch

Have said before to you that the easy contempt of a peacetime youth for former soldiers has long ago been replaced by the greatest respect. And grey hair.
Fascinating thing about the war is that for our nation it now seems in many ways closer than a few years ago.
The tomb of the Unknown Warrior is still getting at least 200 visitors a day.
It gave even men a bit of a damp eye at the ceremonies for the unknown warrior to see so many kids wearing the medals won by their grandfathers and even great grandfathers as a sign of respect.
In the last year there seems to have been quite a few programmes and stories from people who had their lives changed for the better by our troops in World War II.
It has been a war that has cast a huge shadow over all our lives
One of the great things now is that as a nation I think we have finally got the right context for it all. That it was the right thing to do. That it took a terrible toll on us. And that it has now become a shared memory spread amongst the generations. The now old and the very young especially.
Once again it is an honour to be amongst you to salute your courage and the courage of those no longer here.