Please Remember
Every day, somewhere in the world a tragedy occurs. Some are enormous, such as the 2004 boxing day tsunami which was responsible for the deaths of between 230,000 and 280,000 people, not to mention the devastation to the coastal areas, affecting countless numbers, across many countries.
Then there are the individual tragedies, such as an unexpected death in the family, affecting only a hand full of people. For those involved, the scale of the tragedy is unimportant.
Occasionally, something happens which affects a disproportionately large number of people and that’s what happened last week in Ireland. Whilst on the way to provide assistance to a rescue at sea, the crew of Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 116 were lost in the line of duty.
We have a saying about families in Lancashire, kick one and we all limp. The emergency services community is a tightly knit one and a loss in any of the branches is felt by all; this past few days everyone is limping. For a few years, I was a member of that family, but as with all families, you never really leave, and I don’t mind telling you, I’m limping too.
Most of the time, the people who ensure our safety or come to our aid in times of trouble, are invisible; out of sight, out of mind. Please don’t let it be that a tragedy such as this is the only time we remember them.
