Reflecting on Remembrance Day: A Personal Moment of Shame and Gratitude

Today, I experienced a feeling of shame and deep reflection. As the clock ticked closer to the time of the Remembrance Day parade, I found myself dozing off, unaware that I was missing a moment that should have held much more significance. It wasn’t just a parade I was missing; it was a time to honour the countless men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

As I lay there in my warm bed, with the comfort of my home surrounding me, I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. Those who fought and died didn’t have the luxury of comfort. They didn’t get to rest in peace until the battles were over. Many didn’t return home at all. They sacrificed their lives so that we could live ours in peace, with the freedom to sleep soundly, to go about our daily lives, and to take for granted the privileges we often overlook.

Remembrance Day is a time when we pause and reflect on the bravery and selflessness of those who served in wars to protect our way of life. It’s not just about the veterans who fought and survived, but also about those who never made it home, those whose names are etched into memorials and whose stories live on in the hearts of their families and communities. Today, while I slept through the parade, they fought for a future they wouldn’t see.

The irony didn’t escape me. While I lay in the comfort of my own home, those who served didn’t have the luxury of choosing when to wake up, where to be, or even if they would be able to see another day. It was not only their duty but their willingness to give everything for a cause greater than themselves—something that, in a world where we are often consumed by daily routines, we can forget to appreciate.

In that moment of shame, I realized how little I truly think about the sacrifices made for our freedoms. How easy it is to get lost in the daily hustle and forget that everything we have, from the freedom to live peacefully to the rights we enjoy, has been paid for by others. Their sacrifices give us the very opportunity to live the life we lead today—one filled with choices, opportunities, and comforts that so many never got to enjoy.

War was—and still is—a disaster, a tragedy that claims lives and causes unimaginable pain. But at the same time, it brought people together in ways we often fail to acknowledge. In the face of adversity, humanity comes together, transcending borders, races, and cultures, united by a common cause. We are in this together, and that shared unity is a reminder of the strength we find in one another. As nations, we should never forget that. We should embrace each other, no matter the race, no matter the culture, because the bonds forged through sacrifice are the ones that should define us.

Today, I also want to honour the Cypriots who joined the British forces during the wars. Their courage and sacrifice should never be overlooked. Many Cypriots, leaving their homes and families behind, fought alongside the British, and tragically, many of them never returned. Their contribution to the war effort, driven by a sense of duty, reflects the deep bond between Cyprus and the wider world. On this Remembrance Day, we remember their bravery and sacrifice, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy today.

I may have missed the parade, but I won’t miss the opportunity to honour those who sacrificed everything. Always in my heart. It's not just about one day of remembrance. It’s about taking a moment every day to reflect on what we have and what was given to us to have it.

So, today, as I reflect on the shame I felt for missing the parade, I also feel a renewed sense of gratitude. I remind myself to pause and remember those who fought, those who died, and those who continue to fight for our freedom. Because it’s not just their sacrifice we should remember—we have to live a life worthy of it. And in doing so, we honour them every day, not just on Remembrance Day. And we remember that we are one, as people and as nations.

Thank you

Nadia