As we reflect upon those who have given their lives in service, we must also remember those who continue to serve today, including nurses working in some of the most dangerous parts of the world. Their courage, humanity and compassion should never be taken for granted.

In the stillness of reflection, I hope we might take a moment to consider what service, compassion and humanity means to us, both as individuals and members of the nursing profession.

I feel that remembrance is not just about honouring the past; it is also about the responsibilities we carry into the future. At a time when our world and communities appear to be divided by conflict, intolerance and inequality, perhaps we should ask what we can do both individually and collectively to protect the values that define the nursing profession.

For me the act of remembrance is a reminder that service to others carries both privilege and responsibility. Those who have gone before us have demonstrated extraordinary courage and sacrifice. I feel we honour their memory not only through our words we speak at public memorials and in those moments of silence, but through the values we choose to uphold in our own lives.

As I stood amongst my own community in Witney this Sunday, I felt both humbled and proud in the belief there is so much more that unites us than divides us.

In remembering those who gave so much for others, I hope we might each renew our own commitment to the simple, yet profound act of caring for another human being.